Solid particle erosion of jute fibre reinforced red-mud filled epoxy resin composite

Abstract

Composite material has been used in India for last three years. Indigenous production of unsaturated polyester resin has started in 1962 and of glass fibers in 1965, preparing the foundation for growth of composites in India. Polymer composites are gaining popularity in many industrial applications due to their higher specific strength and module. In recent years the natural fiber composites have attracted substantial importance as a potential structural material. The attractive features of natural fibers like Jute, Sisal, Coir and banana have been their low cost, light weight, high specific modulus, renewability and biodegradability. Natural composites reinforced with such natural fibers have thus been a subject of intense study for low strength, low cost application in contrast to the synthetic fiber reinforced composite. In the present work “Solid particle erosion of Jute fiber reinforced Red mud filled Epoxy resin Composite” tests were performed to calculate the erosion rate of the composites for the different variables. The composites were fabricated using Epoxy resin as polymer, Araldite as hardener, Jute fiber as reinforcement. Single, double and four layer composites were made. They were then experimented in the erosion testing machine. Three variables were kept constant while the other one was varied. It was repeated for all the other variables Graphs were drawn showing the variation with the mass loss.