The tensile properties of randomly oriented short fiber lengths from agricultural based plant stems ramie
fiber/epoxy composites are described for the first time in this work. Composites were fabricated using raw
ramie fibers with varying fiber weight percent’s viz. 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45wt. %. The tensile parameter such
as maximum stress, Young’s modulus and elongation at break were determined using the universal testing
machine (UTM). Wet hand lay-up technique was used for the preparation of the composite. Effect of alkali
treatment of ramie fiber epoxy composites were also studied on the tensile properties. Ramie fiber epoxy
composites showed a regular trend of an increase in properties with fiber weight percent until 40% and
afterwards a decrease in properties for composites with greater fiber weight percent. It was observed that
the decreased performance was attributed for randomly fabric was due to the fiber agglomerations between
the fabric and matrix, there by overlapping between them increased. The analysis of the tensile parameters
of short ramie fiber epoxy composites displayed an optimum fiber weight percent at 40wt. %. DSC and TGA
of treated and untreated ramie fiber epoxy composites were also studied.
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