@article{MAKHILLJEAS2018131016217, title = {Development and Characterisation of Eco-Friendly 40% v/v Hybrid Banana/Sisal Fibers-Natural Rubber Latex Composite}, journal = {Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences}, volume = {13}, number = {10}, pages = {3505-3510}, year = {2018}, issn = {1816-949x}, doi = {jeasci.2018.3505.3510}, url = {https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?issn=1816-949x&doi=jeasci.2018.3505.3510}, author = {R. and}, keywords = {Hybrid composites,rubber latex,hybrid (B/S) fiber,sisal fiber,mechanical properties,elastomers,vegetable fibers,eco-friendly materials}, abstract = {The environmentally hazardous, non bio-degradable, toxic nature of synthetic materials and the depletion of their resources have necessitated engineers to look for eco-friendly, non-hazardous, bio-degradable, atoxic and obtained from renewable sources for a sustainable development. Hence, low cost vegetable fibers like banana fibers, sisal, flax, ramie, coir, pineapple, etc. are used as viable alternative to the synthetic fibers. This research aims to develop a hybrid composite with unidirectional, continuous and 40% v/v hybrid of banana fiber and sisal fibers (1:1) natural rubber latex and characterise its mechanical properties like tensile strength, tear strength and hardness for both longitudinal (0°) and transverse fiber orientations (90°). Tensile strength and Tear strength for 0° fibre orientations were found to increase by 42.5 and 282.72% over pure latex sample, respectively. Samples with 90° fiber loadings also showed improved strengths.} }