INVESTIGATION ON WATERPROOFING OF HYBRID KAPOK REINFORCED PLASTIC FOR MARINE APPLICATION

Abstract

The usage of natural fiber kapok as a replacement for composite fiber is well known around the world due to its low price compared with composite fiber. Besides the advantages of its properties that make it usable in every application, Kapok fiber is also well known for its moisture-resistance, quick-drying, resilience, and buoyancy. It weights only one-eighth of cotton, which is five times more buoyant than cork and being used in life preserving and other water-safety equipment. Hence the main purpose of this research is to investigate the rate of water absorbency of natural kapok fiber in sea and fresh water. Kapok fiber is compared with other composite fiber such as Chopped Strand Mat (CSM) and Woven Roving (WR).