Investigation of fiber orientation and void content in bagasse fiber composites using image analysis technique

In this research work, a nondestructive technique of image analysis was explored to determine the fiber orientation and void content in Bagasse fiber reinforced composites. Fiber length, alkali treatment and fiber loading were studied as variables. The fiber orientation was irrespective of the variables of fiber length, fiber loading and alkali treatment. The void content and the size decreased with increases in fiber length and alkali treatment. The alkali treatment resulted in the removal of lignin, making the surface of the fibers rough. It also resulted in making the fiber count fine i.e. reduce the diameter of the fibers and thus presenting more fibers for interaction with resin. Both these phenomena resulted in slower flow of resin. The void content of bagasse fiber composites decreased with higher fiber loading because the higher number of fibers slows the resin flow. However the size i.e. area of the voids increased with the fiber loading from 20 to 30%, probably due to increased wetting difficulty.