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Performance Evaluation of Emu Feather Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

K Nagi Reddy, V Chanrasekar, K Thirupathi Reddy, and Syed Althaf Hussain
School of Mechanical Engineering, RGM College of Engg. & Technology, Nandyal 518501, India

Abstract—The use of composite materials in engineering field is increasing the value of day by day. A composite material is a materials system composed of a combination of two or more micro or macro constituents that differ in form and chemical composition and which are essentially insoluble in each other. It consists of mainly two phases, i.e., Matrix and Fiber. The fibers may be polymers, ceramics, metals such as nylon, glass, graphite, Aluminum oxide, boron, Aluminum, etc. Now a day’s Jute, Coir, Silk, Banana, Bamboo, fibers and animal feathers are also utilized as a fiber. The main added advantages of composite material over conventional materials is the light weight, highly corrosion resistance stable mechanical properties over cretin range of temperature and s additional improvement where resistance thermal insulation thermal conductivity high specific strength. In the present work Epoxy, Polyester is used as matrix and Emu feathers are used as fibers for producing the composites. The specimens are produced by varying the weight percentages 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% of fiber loadings. The mechanical properties such as Tensile strength, Impact strength and Flexural strength are evaluated. Its resistance to chemicals such as Hcl, Noah, NaCl, and H2O is also tested and compare with Epoxy and Polyester resins of Mechanical properties and Chemical resistance values checked.

Index Terms—Emu feathers, Epoxy, Polyester resins, Mechanical properties, Chemical resistance, Results & Discussion, Conclusion

Cite: K Nagi Reddy, V Chanrasekar, K Thirupathi Reddy, and Syed Althaf Hussain, "Performance Evaluation of Emu Feather Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites," International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Research, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 272-284, January 2014.