Nowadays, the hybridization of natural and glass fiber has promised several advantages as a green composite. Nevertheless, their different characteristics lead to poor mechanical bonding. In this work, agel fiber and glass fiber was used as reinforcements, and activated carbon filler was added to the polymer matrix of a hybrid composite to modify its characteristics and mechanical properties. A tensile and bending test was conducted to evaluate the effect of three different weight percentages of activated carbon filler (1, 2, and 4 wt%). Vacuum-assisted resin infusion was used to manufacture the hybrid composite to obtain the high-quality composite. The results have revealed that adding 1 wt% filler yielded the most optimum result with the highest tensile strength, flexural strength, and elastic modulus, respectively: 112.90 MPa, 85.26 MPa, and 1.80 GPa. A higher weight percentage of activated carbon filler on the composite reduced its mechanical properties. The lowest test value was shown by the composite with 4 wt%. The micrograph observations have proven that the 4 wt% composite formed agglomeration filler that can induce stress concentration and reduce its mechanical performance. Adding 1 wt% filler offered the best dispersion in the matrix, which can enhance better load transfer capability.

The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of alkali treatment and steaming on mechanical properties of Snake Fruit frond fiber. The presence of surface impurities and a lot of hydroxyl groups makes natural fiber less compatible for composite materials reinforcement. Efforts to remove the impurities can be done by physical, chemical and mechanical treatments. This paper reports the treatment of Snake Fruit frond single fiber by subjecting it to alkali treatments with 2%- 8% NaOH for 2 - 6 hours at room temperature. The treatment is then followed by steaming at a pressure of 2 bars in 1 hour. Results show that the treatment of alkali and the alkali-steaming combination can increase cellulose percentage. The tensile tests show that this type of treatment in combination resulted in the higher tensile strength compared to untreated fiber. There is a significant increase in tensile strength with increasing alkali percentage. However, the further increase in the percentage of alkali solution will result in decreasing tensile strength. The highest value of tensile strength after treatment was 275 MPa with 6 hours treatment at alkali percentage of 2 %.

The aim of this research is to investigate the alkali treatment and steaming influence on mechanical properties of Aren frond fiber. The presence of surface impurities and the large amount of hydroxyl groups makes natural fiber less compatible for composite materials reinforcement. Effort to remove the impurities can be done by few treatment that consist of physical, chemical and mechanical treatment. First, Aren frond single fiber were subjected to alkali treatments with 1%- 5% NaOH for a period of 4 - 7 hours to room temperature and followed by steaming 1 - 2 bar in pressure. Treatment of alkali and alkali-steaming combination can increase cellulose content. The tensile tests showed that the alkali and steaming treatment combination resulted the highest tensile strength of Aren frond fiber by 512 MPa. Then the impurities in surface fiber single effect interfacial stress and tend decrease bonding strength. These results show that the combination of alkali treatment and steaming can increase mechanical properties of Aren frond fiber.