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Abstract
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Environment is getting badly polluted everyday due to extensive usage of man-made fibre as reinforcement for polymer composite. All around the world scientist, engineers and researchers are showing their keen interest in naturally occurring fibres as reinforcement in place of man-made fibre. In this, the present study is carried out on Jute and vetiver fibre reinforced epoxy composites which are fabricated by hand lay-up technique with varying mass of the fibres in epoxy and matrix modifier graphite is fixed by weight. The mechanical (tensile, flexural and hardness test), and physical properties (water absorption and moisture content behavior) of developed composites are determined. The results obtained from performed test show that tensile strength of around 212.96 MPa was achieved for 6 wt% of vetiver, flexural strength of around 266.267MPa and the Rockwell hardness is 70.08. The water absorption is found maximum for vetiver and jute fibre reinforced epoxy composite in the sample with 8% vetiver and 22% of jute fibre of composite. SEM micrographs clearly shows the incompatibility of vetiver fibre with epoxy matrix, easily understood with pull out of vetiver fibres from the matrix. Continuous fibre was used which equal to the length of the casting, therefore, even due to de bonding, fracture of vetiver fibres occurred more than pull-out.
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