COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF POLYMER MATRIX COMPOSITES PROCESSED BY MICROWAVES AND COMPRESSION MOLDING

Abstract

Polymer matrix composites possess excellent properties such as high specific stiffness, strength, good corrosion resistance and low density. Therefore, polymer matrix composites have replaced metals in numerous engineering applications. In this dissertation report, natural fibers (nettle, hemp) reinforced polypropylene composite laminates have been processed with help of microwave hybrid heating and compression molding. For microwave processing parameters like power and time were optimized and silicon carbide was used as suseptor. For compression molding, parameters like temperature and pressure were optimized. Mechanical characterization of prepared composite laminates has been done and properties of specimens prepared by these two processes have been compared. The results show that composites prepared by compression molding showed better mechanical properties than composites prepared by microwave processing. But microwave processing has sonic advantages over compression molding like low power consumption and processing time. Bonding between fibers and polypropylene was good for all specimens.