Data generated by the hybridization of mechanical properties of composite reinforced by piassava fiber fabric

Piassava (Attalea funifera), a palm tree endemic to Bahia, has a very flexible and resistant fiber. This data article aims to assess the effect of piassava fibers in polyester matrix on the mechanical properties of composites. Two composites were manufactured, one of the piassava fibers in polyester matrix and the other a hybrid of piassava and E-glass fibers in polyester matrix, by hot compression molding process, on which uniaxial tensile tests and three-point bending tests were later performed. The results so obtained show the effective contribution of piassava fibers as reinforcement in polymeric composites. This data article is related to “Effects of hybridization on the mechanical properties of composites reinforced by piassava fibers tissue” (de Oliveira Filho et al., 2018).


a b s t r a c t
Piassava (Attalea funifera), a palm tree endemic to Bahia, has a very flexible and resistant fiber. This data article aims to assess the effect of piassava fibers in polyester matrix on the mechanical properties of composites. Two composites were manufactured, one of the piassava fibers in polyester matrix and the other a hybrid of piassava and E-glass fibers in polyester matrix, by hot compression molding process, on which uniaxial tensile tests and three-point bending tests were later performed. The results so obtained show the effective contribution of piassava fibers as reinforcement in polymeric composites. This data article is related to "Effects of hybridization on the mechanical properties of composites reinforced by piassava fibers tissue" (

Data format
Raw and analyzed data Experimental factors The alkali treatment was carried out by pre-washing in tap water and subsequent treatment with a solution of 10% NaOH concentration for at least one hour. After the mercerization, the fibers must be washed in distilled water for total removal of the NaOH solution as shown the Fig. 1  Value of the data The data are useful for the development of composites that contemplate something in the minimum of these results before the mechanical properties studied.
The data are useful for initial stage of development of composites before their mechanical properties can be studied.
The data may be analyzed and compared with the data on composites of other fibers with which the piassava fibers may be hybridized.
The data may guide other combinations of fibers and elements that may enhance other properties in the composites.

Data
The piassava fiber (Attalea Funifera Mart), seen in Fig. 1 as in nature, used in preparation of laminated composite reinforced by piassava fiber fabric. It comprises data on mechanical properties (Table 1) and chemical composition ( Table 2) of the piassava fiber.
Mechanical properties data refer to stress-strain diagrams obtained in stress-controlled uniaxial tensile tests and three-point bending tests with velocity of 1 mm/min by EMIC DL300kN equipment shown in Fig. 2.
Mechanical properties data refer to stress-strain diagrams obtained in stress-controlled uniaxial tensile tests and three-point bending tests with velocity of 1 mm/min by EMIC DL30000 equipment shown in Fig. 2.

Experimental design, materials and methods
The choice of piassava fibers as reinforcement is justified by their good specific properties and natural origin. However, as natural fibers have more physical variability and lower resistance compared to glass fibers, the option here was to make a hybrid composite of bidirectional E-glass fiber tissue and unidirectional piassava tissue manufactured in manual loom, in order to find the minimum loss in mechanical resistance.
The flowchart in Fig. 3 depicts the experimental procedure carried out in the work here reported. The piassava fibers were first washed in distilled water for removal of earth and dirtiness and then subjected to alkali processing for reducing fiber polarity in relation to the apolar matrix. Afterwards, the fibers were placed in 10% NaOH solution for one hour and then were rinsed in distilled water and dried at environment temperature (25°C) for 24 h.
The piassava reinforcing tissues were fabricated in a manual loom using the warp and weft technique in order to produce unidirectional tissues.   E-glass fiber and piassava fiber tissues, impregnated with orthophthalic unsaturated polyester resin and catalyzed at 1% (MEKP) were used as reinforcement in two different composites, a simple piassava fiber tissue laminate and a hybrid E-glass fiber bidirectional tissue with piassava tissue. Both glass-piassava hybrid and piassava composite laminates were manufactured by hot compression molding.
All tests were made in EMIC universal test equipment, with maximum 300 kN capacity (Fig. 2). The uniaxial tensile tests and three-point bending tests were performed in accordance respectively ASTM D3039 (2009) and ASTM D790 (2008) standards.
Figs. 4 and 5 show initial procedures of collection and pretreatment of piassava fibers. Afterwards, the fibers are washed with 10% NaOH solution, as shown in Fig. 6, and after drying the unidirectional piassava fiber fabric shown in Fig. 7 is assembled.
After fabric production, resin is added, and the layered composite is formed, as Fig. 8 shows.
Composite manufacture was made by hot compression molding, Fig. 9. After one hour cure inside the mold, the test specimens were cut in accordance with ASTM D 3039 and D790 standards [4,5] and composite laminate shown in Fig. 10.
Examples of test specimens mounted in test equipment, Figs. 11 and 12.