br Acknowledgements Military technical college is acknowledg

Acknowledgements Military technical college is acknowledged for funding the research project entitled “Enhanced Visible Tracers for Illumination and Tracking”.
Introduction Glass fibre reinforced epoxy resin composites are used widely in automobiles, wind mills and other engineering applications. Polymers could be strengthened by addition of fibre and particles [1]. The fibre toughened polymer composites are highly preferable in aero and automobile applications due to high strength to weight ratio, ease of processing and more reliable. Epoxy resins are more attractable because of its excellent adhesion, insulation, chemically inactive properties and readily available nature. In order to improve tensile, flexural and other mechanical properties fibre addition is a common method and efficient way too [2–4]. Fibre volume is directly proportional to strength of composite but adding more layers of fibre leads the composites to delaminate. The adhesion between the fibre and resin could be governed by surface modification of fibre. To improve the bonding between fibre and resin and to reduce delamination issues fibres were treated with so much (H2SO4) and base (NaOH). When surface treatment process carried out on fibres leaching is a common issue which may reduce the dimensions of glass fibre. Reduced size of glass fibre gives reduction in cross sectional area hence stress concentration could be increased while external load applied [5]. The silane treated fibres could be more attractable since they cover fibres as a cap and ensure reaction site (NH2) on fibre. The induced reaction site enhanced better adhesion between fibre and resin via chemical route. The silane surface treatment process could be done by aqueous solution method with an amino functional coupling agent. 3-Aminopropyletrimethoxysilane could be used as a coupling agent where NH2 reaction site could be reacted with epoxide group and forms covalent bonds [6]. Siliconized E-glass fibre provides better adhesion with epoxy resin hence mechanical properties like tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength and inter laminar shear strength could be improved [6]. Ramamoorthi et al. [7] reported that silane treatment of natural fibre in poly lactic acid improved mechanical properties due to physico-chemical interaction of fibre to matrix. When external load applied these surface modified fibres transfer load from matrix and reduce stress concentration on matrix. Singha A.S et al. [8] reported that silane treated Grewia optiva fibres give excellent thermal stability and mechanical properties than other surface treatments. The properties like swelling and water uptake were decreased than acid and base treated fibres. Jinchun zhu et al. [9] confirmed that among all chemical treatments on fibre surface, silane treatment gives better results because of improving adhesion between fibre and matrix. Machining of composites at high speed and feed also a major key functional area in structural engineering where delamination is a crucial issue [10–12]. Drilling on composites could be an essential process when composites preferred for structural applications. Drilling at high speeds and traverse feed fibre delamination could be occurred due to poor bonding strength of fibres with matrix. B.V.Kavad et al. [13] reported that drilling at high speeds, delamination occurred due to buckling effect and poor bonding strength of fibres. Mervin A Herbert et al. [14] reported fibre delamination issues on carbon fibre reinforced polymer matrix composites. The drilling process parameters like drill speed, feed, tool material and poor bonding strength of fibre greatly affects the fibre laminates. Katlay sevar et al. [15] reported that silane surface treatment on fibre improved mechanical and machining properties of glass fibre reinforced epoxy composites. From earlier studies it could be seen that the silane treatment on fibre surface improves mechanical and machining properties of fibre reinforced polymer matrix composites.