Determination of Mechanical Properties of Coir Reinforced Composites for Auto Parts Applications

The demand for sustainable materials in automotive applications has led to increased interest in natural fiber reinforced composites. Coir fiber, derived from coconut husk, is one such renewable and eco-friendly material showing promise in enhancing mechanical properties of composites. This article presents a comprehensive review and experimental study on the determination of mechanical properties of coir fiber reinforced composites, aiming to assess their suitability for automotive applications. As the automotive industry seeks to extend vehicles’ lifespans and also minimize the impact of waste, this study on coir as a sustainable alternative to synthetic fiber can propel the automobile sector towards more environmentally conscious practices. The method of establishing the mechanical properties of coir fiber reinforced composites were discussed, along with the effects of processing parameters and fiber treatment. The application of response surface methodology after conducting of tests on 15 samples of coir fiber reinforced composites revealed the desirability of accomplishing the selected result as 94.9%, while the results showed that the optimal solutions for the input parameters are coir 45.000%, epoxy 54.543%, and coir length 45.000mm. Also, the optimal solutions for the response parameters or mechanical properties which were later validated with linear programming gave the following results: flexural strength 57.118MPa, tensile strength, 49.333MPa and impact strength 34.787KJ/M2, Young modulus 4.788 GPa, Stress 4.534, as well as 20.483 units for Strain. The findings revealed that coir fiber reinforced composites possess favorable mechanical properties, making them viable alternatives to conventional materials in automobile parts manufacturing.