DEVELOPMENT OF A FIBRE GLASS/SISAL FIBRE HYBRID COMPOSITE FOR USE AS A CROSSARM IN ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION NETWORK

Abstract

Crossarms are one of the most important components in the electricity distribution sector. These are beams mounted on a utility pole which takes up load from the transmission wires and transfers it to the pole. Wooden crossarms which are mainly used but are prone to insect attacks and are susceptible to biodeterioration. This study is focused on the development of a composite for potential use in the electricity distribution sector as a crossarm. The composite was fabricated using hand lay-up technique. The mechanical and electrical properties of the hybrid fiberglass/sisal fiber reinforced polyester were investigated. The results showed the highest tensile strength of 171.16 MPa. For flexural strength, the highest strength was 281.32 MPa. The highest compressive strength of 189.4 MPa was recorded. The insulation resistance was found to increase with the increase in fiberglass content. The study concludes that the hybrid sisal/fiberglass reinforced polyester composite crossarm has the potential to offer significant advantages over traditional crossarms in terms of performance, cost, and environmental impact. Futher studies are needed on aging performance of the composite and full-scale testing before commercial applications.