FABRICATING NON-CONVENTIONAL FIBRE COMPOSITES FOR AGRICULTURAL USE
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Date
2010
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ACHARYA N.G. RANGA AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Abstract
There is growing interest in the use of natural fibres as reinforcing components for
both thermoplastic and thermo set matrices, because of the ideal benefits offered by natural
fibres such as convenient renewability, biodegradability and environmentally friendliness.
Natural fibre reinforce composites is an emerging area in polymer science. Among natural
fibres Jute, sisal, mesta banana, coir, sunhemp and palymara are abundantly available in
India have a potential as reinforcers in composites.
In India sisal is not cultivated and the sector is unorganized. Sisal is currently found
on embankments, bunds and road sides, serving the purpose of soil conservation and
protection as hedge plantation. Presently sisal fibres are collected and utilized for
conventional purposes like ropes, anchor, cordages and handicrafts. They are not optimally
utilized and commercially exploited with respect to their superior characteristics/quality
and wide applicability. Andhra Pradesh is the home of mesta and it has maximum area
under sabdariffa in the country. Cannabinus is called mesta while sabdariffa is roselle,
which is coarser than jute, yet it is a substitute of jute contributing seven percent by mesta
and five percent by roselle to jute production. With the above concept, this study was
undertaken with the major objective of fabricating non-conventional fibre composites for
agricultural use.
Market survey was carried out in the surroundings of Hyderabad on availability of
composite materials for agricultural use. Mulching mat, shade net, mass stick, green house,
poly house, pot and nursery tray were the products available in most of the shops and the
cost differs according to the product. The material used for making these products was
high density polyethylene.
The natural fibers used in this study are mesta and sisal. The matrix bases used for
making composites are CSNL and polyester resin. Mesta single ply yarn was made into
woven fabric where as sisal paper board and non-woven were developed by delignification
of the fibre. The process in methodology for the extraction of fibre, fabrication and
composite preparation are discussed in detail. Two concentrations of resin were selected
and standardization was done by adding turpentine and acetone in CSNL resin. The resin
mixed with acetone was selected, because of its liquidity and fast drying ability. The
standardization of polyester resin was done based on the minimum and maximum levels
recommended by resin manufacturing company ABR Organics. Based on this,
concentration levels were selected and optimized.
Mesta fabric and sisal non- woven were utilized for fabricating mulching material
and sapling bag with CSNL resin by hand lay-up method. The other components
fabricated with polyester resin were flower pot, hand winnower, tub, bowl, fruit and
vegetable collection tray and nursery tray by resin transfer moulding technique. The
performance characteristics of composites were assessed by field testing and subjective
evaluation. The test composites were subjected to various laboratory tests to evaluate the
physical, performance and mechanical properties of the composites following the standard
procedures laid down by ASTM. The data obtained was compiled, tabulated and
statistically analyzed. Statistical tool such as Two sample T test with unequal variances
was selected for comparison of two fibres, where as correlation was used for quantifying
the dependency of various characteristics on one another and percentages were calculated
for the subjective evaluation.
Tensile strength of the composites was observed to be decreased in sisal when
compared with mesta. As far as impact strength and compressive strength go which is
directly related to over all toughness, sisal had very high impact strength and compressive
strength. Regarding water absorption test conducted among the two selected fibers, sisal
had more water absorption than mesta. Flexural strength is a property which denotes the
bending strength was high in mesta which gave an additional fiber property to be spun.
The increase in flexural strength in mesta is due to the interface adhesion between the fibre
and matrix. The density of mesta and sisal was not very high which gave the property of
non-conventional fiber composites.
Fabricated mulching material showed cent percent weed control, wet ability, high
yield in tomato orchid. In nursery tray tomato and brinjal seeds showed cent percent
germination with healthy growth and better water retention which was acceptable.
Developed sapling bag and flower pot showed that plant growth was better with high water
retention, temperature control in soil and acceptable due to bio degradability. The rural
women could perform the winnowing process on par with the ordinary winnower. The
developed product seemed to be strong, light weight; termite proof with more durability.
The handling of fertilizer in the tub was serving the purpose with more comfort than the
normal tubs due to compact shape and durability. The vegetable collection tray was useful
without distorting the shape and also maintains the spoilage of fruits and vegetables. They
felt the use of the non-conventional fibre tray was more durable than the commercially
available trays. The use of the above mentioned fabricated devices by the selected farmers
was satisfactory with the cost and utilization of available resources.
By considering the data from objective and subjective evaluation, the study indicated
that mesta and sisal fibre were suitable for developing composite devices for different
agricultural operations. According to the preferences of the respondents, both the fibre
products were considered as most suitable and the cost of production was economically
viable for adoption at the commercial level. Hence the results of the study can be adopted
by the farmers to produce better yield of crop and also generates sustainable rural self
employment.
Description
Keywords
sisal, resins, sampling, productivity, polymers, economic resources, planting, costs, irrigation, fungi