DEVELOPMENT OF MESTA FABRIC COMPOSITES FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONSS. SUNDARESAN, L. SASIKALA, A. ARUNRAJ AND R. SENTHIL KUMARAbstract This research work has been carried out by production of Mesta (Hibiscus sp.) fiber reinforced composite with polypropylene as the polymer by uni-polymer compression moulding technique. Four composite samples using plain woven, twill woven, satin woven with grams per square meter (GSM) of 107 to 120 and needle punched non-woven fabric with 57 GSM were produced and tested for the properties tensile load bearing capacity, tensile strain and flexural rigidity. The test results were analysed by statistical method and it can be concluded that woven fabric reinforcement composites have higher extension rate, higher impact strength compared to nonwoven fabric. Further the woven mesta fabric reinforced composites with twill weave exhibited higher impact strength, higher flexural strength compared to plain and satin weave structure. By considering the advantages and applicability, the composite produced from the Mesta fibre twill fabric can be used in the automotive parts such as, Dash boards, Door panels, Head liners and Trunk liners etc.
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