Physio-mechanical characterization of kenaf/saw dust reinforced polymer matrix composite and selection of optimal configuration using MADM-VIKOR approach

The current study focuses on development and mechaincal charactetization of kena and waste saw dust reinforced hybrid composites for various structural/ semi structural applications in automobiles. The proposed composites are developed and tested in four different configurations namely kenaf + epoxy (KE), kenaf + epoxy + 5 wt% saw dust (KESC5), kenaf + epoxy + 10 wt% saw dust (KESC10) and kenaf + epoxy + 20 wt% saw dust (KESC20). It is found from the physical characterization that addition of selected saw dust results in enhenced density of the composites and the proposed composites are also sussceptible to water absorption due to the hydrophillic nature of reinforcements used. The brightest side of the proposed hybrid composites is seen in their tensile and flexural strengths, where the tensile strength of the KESC5 composites enhanced appreciably by 3.34 times compared with KE composite. Also, tensile strength of hybrid composites are better than non hybrid composite. The flexural strength of the saw dust reinforced kenaf/epoxy composite showed a promising behavior with KESC10 exhibiting 90.56 MPa which is 1.32 times more than the non hybrid composite KE. But, it is found that addition of saw dust results in adverse effects on the impact strength of proposed composites due to reduction of elasticity of material and thereby reducing the deformability of matrix. Based on the outcome of the VIKOR, it is concluded that KESC5 composite is the better composite among all its counterparts considered in the present study.