Optimization of pultruded hybrid bio-filled glass fiber-reinforced composites for lightweight forearm application

In this work the effect of pultrusion process variables i.e. pultrusion die temperature, speed of pulling, and % of a hybrid bio filler (calcium carbonate (CaCO3), bagasse fiber, and carbon black (CB)) on the characteristics of pultruded glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites is discussed. The response parameters, namely ultimate tensile and flexural strength, hardness, and % shrinkage were analyzed to realize the effect of pultrusion process parameters. A Taguchi L9 orthogonal array was used for single response optimization, and gray relational analysis for multi-response optimization. Results show that pultruded GFRP properties are significantly influenced and improved by optimizing the selected process parameters. An improvement of 31%, 6.5%, and 14.6% is achieved in ultimate tensile strength, flexural strength, and hardness respectively in comparison to result reported in earlier work by the authors. Results show that process optimization effectively enhances the performance, making them suitable for lightweight forearm protection applications.