Advances in Phytochemistry, Textile and Renewable Energy Research for
Industrial Growth – Nzila et al. (Eds)
© 2022 Copyright the Author(s), ISBN: 978-1-032-11871-0
Open Access: www.taylorfrancis.com, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license
Thermal properties of sisal/cattail fiber reinforced polyester composites
S.M. Mbeche ∗
Department of Manufacturing, Industrial and Textile Engineering, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
Africa Centre of Excellence II in Phytochemicals, Textiles and Renewable Energy (ACE II PTRE), Moi University,
Eldoret, Kenya
Department of Project Management, E&M Technology House Limited, Nairobi, Kenya
P.M. Wambua & D.G. Njuguna
Department of Manufacturing, Industrial and Textile Engineering, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
ABSTRACT: Natural fibres have been the subject of intensive research in the recent past due to their ecofriendly and renewable nature, in addition to other attractive advantages. The current study evaluated the thermal
properties of sisal/cattail fibre-reinforced polyester composites. The composites were fabricated by a hand lay-up
technique at varying hybrid fibre weight fractions (5 to 25 wt.%) while maintaining a constant fibre blend ratio of
50/50. Composites were also prepared at constant fibre weight fraction of 20% while varying the fibre blend ratio
between 0 and 100%. The thermal conductivity of the hybrid composites decreased by 2.93%, 23.4%, 4.31%,
and 20.39% for 5–10, 10–15, 15–20, and 20–25wt.% hybrid fibre loadings, respectively. At a constant hybrid
fibre weight fraction of 15%, thermal conductivity of the hybrid composites increased as the percentage of sisal
fibres in the hybrid increased from 0%–100%. Thus the hybrid composites may be suitable for non-structural
applications as ceiling boards, walls, room partitioning, door panels, and electronic and food packaging. Further
studies should investigate the wettability, biodegradability, and flammability of the hybrid composites.
Keywords: Agave sisalana, hand lay-up technique, Typha angustifolia, thermal conductivity.
1 INTRODUCTION
Natural fibres have been a subject of intensive research
in the recent past due to their eco-friendly and renewable nature, in addition to other attractive advantages such as lower density, high specific strength
and stiffness, low toxicity, low cost of production,
biodegradability, better thermal and insulating properties (Bongomin, Ocen, Nganyi, Musinguzi, & Omara
2020; Gupta, Akash, Rao, & Kumar 2016; Khanam,
Reddy, Raghu, John, & Naidu 2007; Mbeche & Omara
2020; Nasir, Gupta, Hossen Beg, Chua, & Asim
2014; Venkateshwaran, ElayaPerumal, Alavudeen, &
Thiruchitrambalam 2011). They present lower energy
requirements for processing and are readily available
in comparison to reinforcing fibres such as glass,
aramid, and carbon. Thus, natural fibre-reinforced
composites are cheap and attractive for their sustainability and find increasing commercial applications
(Bongomin et al. 2020).
As a continuation of our study (Mbeche, Wambua,
& Githinji 2020), we evaluated the effects of varying
sisal/cattail fibre content on the thermal conductivity
of sisal/cattail polyester commingled composites.
∗ Corresponding author
2 MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sisal fibres were supplied by Lomolo Sisal Estate
Limited, Baringo county, Kenya. Green mature cattail leaves were obtained from Typha angustifolia
from a swamp in the vicinity of Moi University,
Eldoret, Kenya (Figure 1). Unsaturated polyester resin
(UPR) and methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP)
were supplied by Henkel Chemicals Limited, Nairobi,
Kenya.
2.1 Experimental procedures
Cattail leaves were separated from the stalk grouping at
the leaf base followed by the mechanical decortication
process to extract the fibres. Fibres were subsequently
dried at 80
◦ C in an oven to constant weight to eliminate excess moisture that would otherwise result in
poor fibre–matrix adhesion. Sisal fibres as supplied
were cleaned with warm distilled water to remove
chlorophyll, leaf juices, adhesive solids, and soluble
impurities, after which they were dried (Mbeche &
Omara 2020; Mbeche et al. 2020).
Sisal/cattail fibre-reinforced polyester composites
were prepared by a simple hand (wet) lay-up technique
at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% fibre weight fraction with
sisal/cattail ratio kept at 50/50 and then at 0/100, 25/75,
DOI 10.1201/9781003221968-15
121
Industrial Growth – Nzila et al. (Eds)
© 2022 Copyright the Author(s), ISBN: 978-1-032-11871-0
Open Access: www.taylorfrancis.com, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license
Thermal properties of sisal/cattail fiber reinforced polyester composites
S.M. Mbeche ∗
Department of Manufacturing, Industrial and Textile Engineering, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
Africa Centre of Excellence II in Phytochemicals, Textiles and Renewable Energy (ACE II PTRE), Moi University,
Eldoret, Kenya
Department of Project Management, E&M Technology House Limited, Nairobi, Kenya
P.M. Wambua & D.G. Njuguna
Department of Manufacturing, Industrial and Textile Engineering, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
ABSTRACT: Natural fibres have been the subject of intensive research in the recent past due to their ecofriendly and renewable nature, in addition to other attractive advantages. The current study evaluated the thermal
properties of sisal/cattail fibre-reinforced polyester composites. The composites were fabricated by a hand lay-up
technique at varying hybrid fibre weight fractions (5 to 25 wt.%) while maintaining a constant fibre blend ratio of
50/50. Composites were also prepared at constant fibre weight fraction of 20% while varying the fibre blend ratio
between 0 and 100%. The thermal conductivity of the hybrid composites decreased by 2.93%, 23.4%, 4.31%,
and 20.39% for 5–10, 10–15, 15–20, and 20–25wt.% hybrid fibre loadings, respectively. At a constant hybrid
fibre weight fraction of 15%, thermal conductivity of the hybrid composites increased as the percentage of sisal
fibres in the hybrid increased from 0%–100%. Thus the hybrid composites may be suitable for non-structural
applications as ceiling boards, walls, room partitioning, door panels, and electronic and food packaging. Further
studies should investigate the wettability, biodegradability, and flammability of the hybrid composites.
Keywords: Agave sisalana, hand lay-up technique, Typha angustifolia, thermal conductivity.
1 INTRODUCTION
Natural fibres have been a subject of intensive research
in the recent past due to their eco-friendly and renewable nature, in addition to other attractive advantages such as lower density, high specific strength
and stiffness, low toxicity, low cost of production,
biodegradability, better thermal and insulating properties (Bongomin, Ocen, Nganyi, Musinguzi, & Omara
2020; Gupta, Akash, Rao, & Kumar 2016; Khanam,
Reddy, Raghu, John, & Naidu 2007; Mbeche & Omara
2020; Nasir, Gupta, Hossen Beg, Chua, & Asim
2014; Venkateshwaran, ElayaPerumal, Alavudeen, &
Thiruchitrambalam 2011). They present lower energy
requirements for processing and are readily available
in comparison to reinforcing fibres such as glass,
aramid, and carbon. Thus, natural fibre-reinforced
composites are cheap and attractive for their sustainability and find increasing commercial applications
(Bongomin et al. 2020).
As a continuation of our study (Mbeche, Wambua,
& Githinji 2020), we evaluated the effects of varying
sisal/cattail fibre content on the thermal conductivity
of sisal/cattail polyester commingled composites.
∗ Corresponding author
2 MATERIALS AND METHODS
Sisal fibres were supplied by Lomolo Sisal Estate
Limited, Baringo county, Kenya. Green mature cattail leaves were obtained from Typha angustifolia
from a swamp in the vicinity of Moi University,
Eldoret, Kenya (Figure 1). Unsaturated polyester resin
(UPR) and methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP)
were supplied by Henkel Chemicals Limited, Nairobi,
Kenya.
2.1 Experimental procedures
Cattail leaves were separated from the stalk grouping at
the leaf base followed by the mechanical decortication
process to extract the fibres. Fibres were subsequently
dried at 80
◦ C in an oven to constant weight to eliminate excess moisture that would otherwise result in
poor fibre–matrix adhesion. Sisal fibres as supplied
were cleaned with warm distilled water to remove
chlorophyll, leaf juices, adhesive solids, and soluble
impurities, after which they were dried (Mbeche &
Omara 2020; Mbeche et al. 2020).
Sisal/cattail fibre-reinforced polyester composites
were prepared by a simple hand (wet) lay-up technique
at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% fibre weight fraction with
sisal/cattail ratio kept at 50/50 and then at 0/100, 25/75,
DOI 10.1201/9781003221968-15
121