Investigation of water absorption,sound absorption coefficient,and tensile strength of Sambucus ebulus L. stem fiber reinforced composites

Abstract

Plant-based natural fibers are commonly desirable substances in composites because of their potential for eco-friendliness and sustainability. In this study, a sustainable composite reinforced with Sambucus ebulus L. (SEL) fiber was prepared with different fiber-to-polymer matrix ratios. The mechanical properties, water absorption, and sound absorption coefficient of composites were investigated in terms of fiber-to-polymer matrix ratio. Before the composite production, the SEL fibers were exposed to alkali surface modification. The composites were prepared with epoxy resin using a manual lay-up technique with different amounts of reinforcement (5% and 10%). At 5 wt.% SEL content, it was concluded that the composites have a 110% and 33.4% higher tensile strength than epoxy resin. The sound absorption coefficients of composites increase with an increase in the amount of fiber content and are determined as 0.67 for a 10% fiber component. Furthermore, the water absorption percentage of the composites increased from 0.32% to 1.92% after the epoxy resin was reinforced with 10 wt.% SEL fiber. In conclusion, the use of natural fibers as reinforcing elements in composite materials not only supports environmental sustainability but also provides a green alternative to traditional reinforcing materials by offering economic, lightweight, and adequate mechanical properties.