Statistical Study of the Influence of Fiber Content, Fiber Length and Critical Length in the Mechanical Behavior of Polymeric Composites Reinforced with Carica Papaya Fibers (CPFs)

Abstract

Vegetable fibers are excellent substitutes for manmade fibers because they are resistant and sustentables. This article studied the potencial application of Carica Papaya Fibers (CPF) in polymerics composites of natural resin. A simple model of micromechanical analysis was used for prediction of breaking stress, strain and Young’s modulus in composites with short fibers of Carica Papaya and matrix of polyurethane resin obtained from Ricinus Communis vegetable. The fiber contents were varied between 10–35% and fiber lengths were varied between 3–6%. The result analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) to assess the influence of variables on the mechanical properties of each composite produced. The results showed that that increased in fiber length promoted increase in stress values, while the increase in fiber content favored the increased in the stiffness of the composite.