LAUSR

The goal of this research is to identify different types of water hyacinth plant fibre extraction methods, and what effect each of those methods has on mechanical, absorption and morphological properties of water hyacinth fibre composites. The main objective of this study was to identify some new extraction techniques to efficiently remove the aquatic waste of water hyacinth plants, and convert this biological waste into some successful commercial products. The first method of extraction in our study was the conventional retting method, followed by a manual extraction method, a hot water extraction method and a chemical hot water boiling method. The extraction process is then carried out with the help of an automated machine using a bare motor. The aim of this project is to increase the mechanical strength of hyacinth fibre by producing large quantities of fibre and by finding an optimal fibre extraction process. In the process of compression moulding, the fibres obtained from different extraction methods are combined with an epoxy matrix material to produce polymer composite samples. The mechanical strength, hardness and surface morphologies of the differently extracted water hyacinth fibre-reinforced composite samples are analysed in this work.