Abstract:
In scope of this research, manufacturing and mechanical characterization of rattan and bamboo fiber reinforced
vinyl ester composite material were carried out. Bamboo and rattan fiber was extracted by using retting process
followed by chemical treatment to enhance mechanical properties. The composite was manufactured using
bidirectional fiber mat in vacuum bag molding and hand layup process. The weight fraction between rein-
forcement and matrix was 24% and 76% respectively. Three types of composites were manufactured; Bamboo
Fiber Composite (BFC), Rattan Fiber Composite (RFC), and Rattan (12%) and Bamboo (12%) Fiber Composite
(RBFC). Different mechanical behavior of the composite was investigated, such as tensile strength, flexural
strength, hardness, and impact strength. The maximum flexural and impact strength was found for RBFC with
57.66 MPa and 44.49 kJ/m2, respectively. It was found that about 29% and 17% of flexural strength and 29%
and 78% of impact strength was improved for RBFC than BFC and RFC respectively. Finally, fabricated com-
posites mechanical characteristics were compared to the Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene or ABS plastic materials
mechanical characteristics.
