SINOPSIS

The present work examines different types of natural fiber available for the development of potential composite materials. The attempts can be found in literature to obtain composite materials with jute, flax and sisal natural fibers. They provide data but lack experimentation for obtaining unidirectional natural fiber composites with seldom natural fibers like banana, cotton, palm leaf, etc. Systematic experimental study was undertaken to reveal the effect of volume fraction of reinforcement on longitudinal strength as well as elastic modulus using developed mould-punch setup and testing aids. The testing is carried out according to ASTM D3039/3039M-08. Comparative assessment of the obtained experimental results with literature is also carried out, which forms an important constituent of the present work. It is also observed through SEM images that interface/interphase plays an important role in a natural fiber composite.