The tensile properties of short sisal fibre reinforced polyester composites as a function of fibre length, content and orientation were evaluated. The tensile strength of the composites increased with fibre lengths (5-45 mm), leveled off (45-55mm) and then decreased (55-75mm). Modulus and elongation at break of the composites were insensitive to fibre length. The tensile strength of the composites increased with fibre contents up to 50% and then showed a decreasing trend. The longitudinal tensile strength of oriented composites was 10 times higher than its transverse strength and 3 times higher than those of randomly oriented composites.
Sisal fibers; polyester; composites; fiber length; orientation; mechanical properties
