Improving Impact Strength and Water Absorption Properties of Enset Fiber Reinforced Polyester Composite

This study investigated the utilization of natural Enset fiber which is extracted from a perennial herbaceous plant cultivated in southwestern Ethiopia as reinforcement in Polyester resin matrix for non-load bearing structural elements. The composite samples have been developed by manual hand layup followed by a compression technique. The fiber was treated with a 5wt% NaOH solution (Alkali treatment) for better fiber-matrix adhesion. The fiber percentages (10wt%, 20wt% and 30 wt% by weight) were used for the preparation of the composite. Impact strength and water absorption properties of both raw and alkali-treated fiber-based composite were studied. The result obtained shows that NaOH solution treatment has a positive effect on the impact strength and water absorption properties of the composite. For raw fiber-based composite optimum impact strength was recorded at 20wt% fiber content. However, for treated fiber-based composite highest value was obtained at 30wt% fiber content. For both raw and treated fiber-based composite water absorption is directly proportional to fiber content and it is high for raw fiber-based composit