A SYNOPSIS

on
“EFFECT OF FIBER LOADING AND FIBER
TREATMENT ON TRIBOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF
HILL BAMBOO/PLA COMPOSITE’’
Submitted by:
ADITYA MALIK (196310006)
ASHUTOSH DUBEY (196301019)
SARTHAK RATHI (196310062)
In partial fulfilment for the award of the degree
Of
BACHELOR OF TECHENOLOGY
IN
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

FACULTY 0F ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

GURUKULA KANGRI (DEEMED TO UNIVERSITY) HARIDWAR
FEB, 2023

1
 DECLARATION

I ADITYA MALIK, ASHUTOSH DUBEY & SARTHAK RATHI,

hereby declare that the presented SYNOPSIS of titled “EFFECT OF
FIBER LOADING AND FIBER TREATMENT ON
TRIBOLOGICAL BEHAVIOUR OF HILL BAMBOO/PLA
COMPOSITE” during the period from 13/02/2023 TO 13/04/2023”. Is
uniquely prepared by US after the completion of one month work at
COMPOSITE. The project has not formed the basis for the award of any
other degree, diploma, fellowship or any other similar titles.

NAME ROLL NUMBER SIGN.

Aditya Malik 196310006

Ashutosh Dubey 196301019

Sarthak Rathi 196310062

PLACE: F.E.T, G.K. (DU), HARIDWAR

DATE: 14/02/23 MR MAYANK POKHRIYAL
Signature of Mentor

2
CONTENT LIST

Title page
Declaration
Certificate
Content list

1 Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------- 3

2 Methodology---------------------------- ------------------------------- 5

3 Tribology----- ----------------------------------------------------------- 7

4Materials ----------------------------------------------------------------- 8

5 Objectives--------------------------------------------------------------- 10

6 References -------------------------------------------------------------- 11

3
Introduction

Although fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) have been used in many

engineering applications, especially where high strength and stiffness are
required, unfortunately, traditional FRP composites often pose
considerable problems with respect to their reuse or recycling at the end
of their usable lifetime, mainly because of the nonbiodegradable fibers
and matrixes. This led to the development of green composites of natural
fibers and biodegradable resin.
A new public awareness toward green composites has taken place because
of a variety of reasons including major oil crises due to the finite nature
of fossil resources, increase in the release of toxic gases into the
atmosphere as a result of burning fossil resources and a huge increase in
the volume of composite waste. Development of partially biodegradable
composites made of cellulosic fibers with thermoset resin started in 1980s.
In 1990s, fabrication of wood flour (WF)-reinforced composite using
thermoplastic resin was reported.
Constituents and types of green composites the main constituents of green
composites are matrix, reinforcement and interphase between matrix and
reinforcement. The matrix is the continuous phase and plays an important
role in determining the overall properties of the green composite. The
matrix isolates the fibers from one another in order to prevent abrasion
and formation of new surface flaws and acts as a bridge to hold the fibers
in place.
A good matrix should possess ability to deform easily under applied load,
transfer the load onto the fibers and evenly distribute stress concentration.
Matrix materials may be petroleum-derived nonbiodegradable polymers
like polypropylene (PP), polyethylene and epoxies or biopolymers like
PLA, poly-hydroxy-butyrate and so on. The reinforcements are the second

4
main component added to the matrix, which normally enhance the
mechanical properties of the neat resin system.
Due to presence of different constituents in intermixed or combined state,
there always exist a contiguous region which is the interface between
matrix and green fibers, but sometimes in the contiguous region there
exists a distinctly added phase (coating) or reacted phase which improves
wetting, that is interphase. It is the region that lies between matrix and the
reinforcement. It plays critical role in determining the properties of
composite.
There should be good wettability between matrix material and green
fibers. Various surface treatments of green fibers (silane, acetone and
alkali treatment, etc.) and coupling agents are frequently used to improve
the wettability. To obtain desirable properties in a composite, the applied
load should be effectively transferred from the matrix to the fibers via the
interface.

METHODOLOGY
The composition and designation shown . Characterization of Composite
Materials:
Physical Testing: The hypothetical density of composite materials can
be determined according to the conditions given by

where density and weight fraction were represented by W and ρ,

respectively. Bamboo/PLA, matrix, particulate filler, and composite
materials are designated by suffix f, m, p, and ct, respectively. Water

5
submersion technique can be utilized to find the experimental density of

the specimens.
where ρexp = experimental density of specimen (gm cm−3 ), m = mass
of specimen (gm), Δh = change in height of water level As indicated by
ASTM D570-98 standard test technique, moisture ingestion conduct of
plastics was resolved. The sample size for water retention was two inch
diameter disks, 0.125″ or 0.250″ thick. To normal water, the samples were
dipped for 24 h and after that the samples were taken out from the
moisture and all surface moisture was removed with the help of a dry
cloth. At that condition, the samples were reweighed to the closest 0.001
mg within 1 min and expelled them from the atmospheric condition of
chamber. The weight of the samples was routinely weighed at 24, 48, 72,
96 h, respectively. The amount of moisture ingestion was calculated by
the weight difference. The increase in weight percentage of the samples
was measured at regular time intervals of time by using the following

equation:

6
where Ww is the weight of sample at a given submersion time and Wd is
the boiler-dried weight.
TRIBOLOGY
Mechanical Testing: The tensile test with speed of cross head is 10 mm
min−1 directed on HEICO range of Universal Testing Machine (HL-590)
follows the ASTM D638-02 standard demonstrates the samples of
measurement (115 mm × 6 mm × 4 mm) before and after the test was
directed. ASTM E23 utilized in Charpy test to analyze the toughness of
material carried out in a Vicker machine assumed the specimen size 55
mm × 10 mm × 10 mm and the depth of the notch is (t/3 = 3.33 mm) 6.66
mm. At the time while samples were being broken by the machine, the
energy (joule) will be absorbed by the Charpy test machine. The
Electronic Vickers Micro-hardness Tester was used to measure the
hardness with diamond intender set at an indentation speed of 45 µm per
sunder; a load of 1 kgf for 15 s.
Wear Testing: The standard abrasion test rig performed three body
abrasion wear test was conducted as per ASTM G65 standards with 100
µm abrasives size and feed rate of 365 gm min−1 . A series of tests were
conducted keeping constant parameters (Counter: 2000, RPM: 200, Load:
10N, Sliding Distance: 1444. The specimens of each composition follows
ASTM G99 standard for wear test performed on Pin-on-disc. Before
mounting in specimen holder, the weight of specimen was recorded with
accuracy of 0.0001 gm. At normal load of 20 N and 3 m s−1 velocity of
sliding, the tests were directed at fixed sliding distance of 1800 m and
track diameter of 60 mm for each composition. The coefficient of friction
(µ) determined through frictional force is shown by control units. shows
the specimens before and after pin-on-disc test. Scanning Electron
Microscopy: The scattering of silver nanoparticles in pine gum polymer

7
was assessed with the assistance of LEO 435 VF. To obtain clean and
precise fracture faces, all fractured composites samples were gold
sputtered.
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy: The spectrometer
collected the data at the high level of spectral resolution. It demonstrates
significant benefit over a dispersive spectrometer which measures
intensity over a wavelength of limited range at once. The analysis was
demonstrated by Perkin–Elmer spectrum machine which verified the
resolution with transmission mode of BAMBOO/PLA at 4 cm−1 of 4000–
400 cm−1.
Antibacterial Assay: The agar well dispersion strategy assessed
antibacterial action of pine gum extract with silver nanoparticles against
Escherichia coli pathogenic bacteria. The nutrient agar plate consists of
BAMBOO/PLA (50 µL) with the gel puncture on the 10 mm wells. After
incubation for 24 h, the different levels of zone of inhibition were
examined at 32 °C. The antibacterial behavior of pine gum was also
analyzed separately.

Materials

1. Himalayan Bamboo Fiber

Bamboo Straps Bamboo fiber is a cellulose fiber extracted or fabricated
from natural bamboo. These are collected from local sources. Bamboo
belongs to grass family Bambusoideae. It is a natural Lignocelluloses
composite, in which cellulose fibers are embedded in the lignin matrix.

8
 Fig.1. Raw hill Bamboo chopped fibers (4-5mm length)

2. PLA (poly lactic acid)

Conventional plastics are resistant to biodegradation, as the surfaces in
contact with the soil in which they are disposed are characteristically
smooth. Currently, biodegradable polymers are attracting a great
attention from researchers and industries as these polymers are
designed to degrade upon disposal by the action of living organisms.
Biopolymers derived from renewable resources such as corn,
cellulosic, soy protein and starch are attracting the attention of
scientists to replace traditional Petro-based plastics in designing green
composites. PLA is a thermoplastic biopolymer which can be
semicrystalline or totally amorphous in nature. PLA is produced from
lactic acid through fermentation of agricultural products like corn.
PLA can be prepared by both direct condensation of lactic acid and ring
opening polymerization of the cyclic lactide. Cargill Dow LLC has

9
developed a low-cost continuous process for the production of lactic
acid-based polymers. In PLA synthesis, first of all, corn (or rice,
potatoes, sugar beet, agricultural wastes, etc.) is converted into
dextrose.
Lactic acid is obtained through fermentation of dextrose which is
converted into lactide in the presence of catalyst. After purification by
vacuum distillation, lactide is converted into PLA polymer through
polymerization in the presence of suitable catalyst.
PLA is a fully sustainable polymer as it is derived from annually
renewable raw materials and it is fully biodegradable. After
composting, PLA-based materials are converted into water and
carbon dioxide which are consumed in growing more agricultural
products for further conversion to PLA.

Properties of PLA (Poly Lactic acid)

PLA has good mechanical properties that are comparable to
polyethylene terephthalate and PP which are the most common
materials used in automobiles. The temperature at which PLA can be
melt processed with available standard processing equipment is safe
for natural fibers because natural fibers do not degrade at the
processing temperature Also, PLA is a hydrophobic polymer because
of the incorporation of the CH3 side chain.
Because of all these favorable properties, PLA has strong candidacy
among the biopolymers for the matrix material to be used in green
composites.

10
References
1. Pramendra Kumar Bajpai, Inderdeep Singh and Jitendra Madaan.
Journal of Thermoplastic Composite Materials published online 22
March 2012. Development and characterization of PLA-based green
composites. DOI: 10.1177/0892705712439571
2. Saurabh Chaitanya, Amrinder P. Singh and Inderdeep Singh.
Processing of lignocellulosic fiber-reinforced biodegradable
composites. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee,
Uttarakhand, India, University Institute of Engineering and
Technology, Punjab University, Chandigarh, India.
3. Pramendra Kumar Bajpai, Inderdeep Singh and Jitendra Madaan.
Tribological Behavior of natural fiber and fiber reinforced PLA
composites.
4. PLA/banana fiber based sustainable bio composites: A
manufacturing perspective Ujendra Kumar Komal, Manish Kumar
Lila, Inderdeep Singh. PII: S1359-8368(19)34676-1 DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2019.107535.
5. Grainer N, Herrmann AS and Mussing J. Natural and man-made
cellulose fiber-reinforced poly (lactic acid) (PLA) composites: an
overview about mechanical characteristics and application areas.
Compos Part A 2009; 40: 810–821

11
 Fig.1. Poly Lactic Acid pellets (PLA - 3052D Naturtech, Bangalore,
India)

The objective of the Project

The objective of the project is to find out the following properties of raw
and alkali treated green composites:
1. To study the tribology of natural fiber composite (literature &
survey)
2. To determine specific wear rate of hill bamboo/PLA composite.

12