Effect of Aging on Water, Salt Water and Lubricant at Polyester Matrix Natural Fiber Composites

Composite materials are alternative materials that come rising fast at last decades. With a view to the use of lighter and stronger materials that can replace ferrous materials, arise composites reinforced by synthetic fibers. Moreover, natural fibers emerge as an alternative reinforcement for the synthetic fibers because they are costly. Thus the present study aims to evaluate the behavior of particulate composite reinforced by sisal fibers in the size of 15 mm emerged in fluids such as water, salt water, and lubricating oil. The specimens were made according to ASTM D638M and aging it period of sixty days. After two months, the specimens were subjected to tensile tests, and determined the tensile strength results and deformation of the maximum load and the modulus of elasticity. In general, it was observed a reduction in tensile strength of the particulate sisal composite when immersed into the lubricant oil. This research provides results for possible applications of reinforced plastics sisal fibers in automotive components. After their respective exposure time the samples passed through a tensile test to evaluate their properties and compare the effects of different exposure times. The results show an effective decrease in properties of elasticity and tensile resistance by the composite, directly proportionally to the aging time. It’s possible to conclude that the salt water absorption degrades both fiber and resin.