This paper presents preparation of unidirectional aligned agave sisalana variegata fiber-reinforced vinyl ester composite laminates and their mechanical properties such as tensile, shear, flexural and impact strength. Wet hand layup technique was used for the preparation of composites. Mechanical tests were carried out for different weight percentage of fiber by varying the number of layers. Mechanical properties were analyzed as a function of wt%. The maximum tensile, flexural, impact and shear strength was observed on a composite designated as D. But the maximum tensile and flexural modulus values were identified in a composite designated as E. Experimental results were compared with theoretical results such as the rule of mixture and Bowyer and Bader model. Bowyer and Bader model was able to predict the strength and modulus of the composites better than the rule of the mixture model. The comparison between experimental and predicted values was also done by the student t test.

Keywords: polymer-matrix composite; agave sisalana variegata fiber; vinyl ester; mechanical property