Properties and performance index of natural fiber reinforced cross-ply composites made from Dioscorea alata stem fibers

In this study, post-harvest Dioscorea alata stem fiber was rated, extracted and treated with 2 % concentration of Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for 4 h. Three replicate samples of Dioscorea alata stem fibre/epoxy composites (DASFEC) were prepared as per ASTM D3039 and tested under tension with a crosshead displacement rate of 2 mm/min. The laminate in-plane strains , out-plane strain due to the bending with the curvatures (kx, ky, kxy), strains (ex, ey, exy) and ply stresses in material axes (s1, s2, t12) were calculated using Classical Laminate Theory. The longitudinal tensile strength, yield strength, shear strength and Elastic modulus of Dioscorea alata stem fiber/epoxy lamina (DASFEL) were respectively estimated as 94.2 MPa, 44.4 MPa, 18.1 MPa and 3552.5 MPa. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) Analysis captured the O-H present in cellulose II at 2750.3 cm-1, 3001.3 cm-1, 3279.849 cm-1and 3813.16 cm−1 peaks with weak intensity on the average. Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis showed the high presence of Carbon (C) and Oxygen (O) with small deposit of Silicon (Si). The damage onset for individual ply was detected by both Maximum Stress Theory and Tsai-Hill Theory in ply 2 at 90 degrees while the overal laminate strenght (sx) was estimated as 64.7 MPa. The study established that DASFEC is desirable for car interior panel design.