Correlation of fibre contents towards manufacturing defects and water absorption of Arenga Pinnata fibre reinforced hybrid composites for green boat construction

In this decade, all researchers and industry players decide to produce new sustainable product by exploring new resources as well as promote a new potential design. Natural fibre had gained a great attention from all researchers and industry players for this purpose. In this study, a new formulation of Arenga Pinnata fibre reinforced hybrid fibreglass/Kevlar composite was fabricated using a hand lay-up technique for the potential eco-design green boat. The hyrid composite specimens were prepared in different fibre percentage to polymer matric and the thickness of 5 mm. The determination of manufacturing defects of the potential eco-design green boat was performed using Scanning Electron Microscopy technique (SEM. Water absorption were observed using the standard water absorption test of ASTM D570-98. Then, correlation of manufacturing defects toward water absorption were analyzed. As a conclusion, SEM had significantly determined the manufacturing defects occurred in the hybrid composite specimen as voids, fibre pull-out, resin rich zone and matric cracks as well as misalignment of fibre. In this study, its demonstrated that increased of fibre contents influenced the numbers of manufacturing defects and interfacial adhesion. It was revealed that the specimen C of 60% fibre content had the least manufacturing defects. This led to better mechanical properties, as specimen D of 75% fibre content possessed the highest manufacturing defects and interfacial adhesion. The result of water absorption showed that 30% of fibre content Arenga Pinnata showed the lowest water resistance in day 15 which is 2.94%. The 75% of fibre content Arenga Pinnata showed the highest in day 15 which is 5.20%.