studies on some mechanical properties of pvc-wood fibre composite

studies on some mechanical properties of pvc-wood fibre composite

in this study some mechanical properties of pvc-wood fibre composite were investigated. the wood fibre was gotten from a mahogany tree. the sample was moulded and shaped at a temperature of 150oc using a hadraulic hot press and pressure of 3bar for 5mins and the mechanical properties were studied base on varying the wood fibre contents from 0% to 50%.

the hardness test carried out using the durometer hardness tester show a decrease in the hardness of the composite as the wood fibre is varied from 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% 40% and 50% and the impact strength of the composite decreases as well in that order. the tensile strength conducted using the mensato tensometer show a decrease at 10% wood fibre, while an increase in the wood fibre to 20% show an increase in the tensile strength on further addition of the wood fibre a decrease is noticed. this decrease in tensile strength decreases the strain of the pvc-wood fibre composite and hence increasing the modulus of elasticity of the pvc-wood fibre composite as the wood fibre is been added.