M Nasihatgozar - Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Kashan Branch, Kashan, Iran
V Daghigh - Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Kashan Branch, Kashan, Iran
K Nikbin - Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College, London, UK

In the present research, for the first time, effects of adding short latania natural fiber into polypropylene (PP) reinforced ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) composites on the flexural behavior of PP/EPDM compositeshave been investigated. The flexural three-point bending test for latania/PP/EPDM composites with different weight percentages of latania natural fiber was conducted. Infusion moulded method was utilized to fabricate standardspecimens. Different weight percentages were considered and the load-deflection diagrams were compared. It was revealed that adding natural fiber could enhance the bending stiffness and ultimate bending strength of PP/EPDMcomposites. The fabrication procedure and testing conditions for the composite specimens were intentionally the same as those mentioned in a recent original article published by journal of reinforced plastics and composites. The resultsobtained by latania natural fiber reinforced PP/EPDM were then compared with those for jute natural fiber reinforced PP/EPDM composites available in the existed literature and the optimized fiber was introduced.

Flexural three-point bending, PP/EPDM composites, latania natural fiber, jute natural fiber