Reinforcement of Fiberglass

First, the term "fiberglass" is misused daily. Fiberglass is fabric made from glass. It is dry and has little strength until it is coated with some type of thermosetting resin, typically polyester. Epoxy resin can be used, too.

Sugar cane bagasse has no strength (compared to glass fiber) and would not contribute anything to the mix.

thank you for your reply but even if only the cellulose is use it wont strengthen the fiberglass??when am talking of fiberglass is when its combine to pp

Read this. I don't see any way to use it as a reinforcement.

Bagasse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

thanks for the link...in one of the research done in brazil they were able to show that when cellulose at 20% together with pp there were an increase in flexural strength..can we assume that it strengthen it?

Only if the fibers are added in an organized manner and properly oriented.

If it is added with random fiber orientation, it is only a filler material. Quality design analysis of the desired shape and quality control of how the fibers are incorporated will determine the affect on the properties of the desired shape.

You may find this interesting (and relevant)

http://www.compositesworld.com/articles/eco-elise-concept-lean-speedy-and-green

Ok, the answer to this is, it all depends on layup, configuration of the bagasse and design of the part.

From what Ive read of Bagasse it can be used like styrofoam, if this is the case, then if it is used as the middle of a sandwich layup, then the answer is yes.

Best thing to do is try it and test it, the guys building bicycles out of bamboo didnt know for sure until they worked out all the kinks.

Like cotton fiber we have glass fiber which goes in making cloth same way we make cloth out of cotton fiber.

The difference between cotton fiber and glass fiber glass fiber is stronger if not touched than cotton fiber. Glass strength goes down when it is touched because of sodium from hand goes to glass surface and rubbing glass creates small surface flaw and make to fail early.

The fiber used in making car bumper is chopped glass fiber. Chopped glass fiber is mixed with organic and one of the common organic is polyvinyl acetate and then cast in shape.

One can use other resin system based on how stable it is under auto use conditions.

thks for the precise technical info about fiber and do u think that the fiber from bagasse can be use in car bumper to make it stronger togther with fiberglass and pp??

I do not see any reason to replace part of the glass fiber with this. advantage is close to my heart use of waste for real application but disadvantage is one has not studied the long term effect of compatibility or incompatibility of two organic type.

Glass is inert and people have studied it throughly for its usability and product life but like any new product one need to generated data to convince manufacturer it is same or better at low cost