Mechanical Behavior of Polymer Composites Reinforced by Sisal and Malva Particulate Fibers Adding Wood Waste

The rise in national industry occurred more frequently in the aircraft industry as stabilizers and rudders at the rear of the aircraft. The automotive industry is also using composite materials reinforced by synthetic fibers in various vehicle components, such as the bumper and trunk tray. Plies and laminates produced from the composite can be used in car interior trim. Much is made of sisal fibers as reinforcement in cars, this study aims to evaluate the influence of the addition of wood waste, angelim pedra (Hymenolobium petraeum Ducke), at composite polyester matrix reinforced by sisal and malva fibers. The fibers and the residue were purchased in local market and characterized physically, microstructurally and mechanically. The specimens of malva and residues were cut in three different sizes: 5, 10 and 15 mm, by the way the hybrid composites reinforced by sisal and the residues, the sisal fibers were cut at a randomly lengths. The residue angelim pedra was sieved to control its particle size. The matrix used was the unsaturated polyester resin. To manufacture the composite was adopted a simple and low-cost methodology incorporating the matrix material. The mechanical properties analyzed by tensile tests and generated fracture surfaces were evaluated by microscopy to correlate the fracture aspects to the mechanical properties.