Natural particulate reinforced polymer (NPRP) composites are developed to replace synthetic fibers, aiming to reduce costs and environmental impact. Industries such as automotive, electronics, construction and aerospace are turning to filler-reinforced polymer composites and natural bio-fibers to enhance structural properties and develop eco-friendly products. This article presents research on epoxy-based composites fortified with natural and ceramic micro-sized fillers, including seaweed filler (SF), banana fiber (BF) and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), fabricated using the hand layup technique. Through experiments, the effect of filler loading on the enhancement of mechanical properties such as tensile strength (TS), toughness (T), Young's modulus (YM), resilience (R) and yield strength (YS) of multiphase hybrid composites is investigated. Incorporating mixtures of ceramic filler and natural fillers into the epoxy matrix improves mechanical properties. The results demonstrated that the interlaced composites achieved optimum mechanical properties for S6 sample, including a TS of 24.85 MPa, T of 25.47 MJ/m3, YM of 7.15 GPa, R of 0.698 MJ/m3 and YS of 3.34 MPa. In comparison with S11 samples, the mechanical properties such as TS, T, YM, R and YS of the S6 composite sample are increased by 110.95%, 57.8%, 450%, 501.7% and 292.9%, respectively. The tensile fracture's scanning electron images reveal a homogenous surface with the formation of a fractured surface and defects. Statistical analysis at a 96% confidence level revealed the significance of the interaction between natural and ceramic micro particulate on the TS of the developed interlaced composite material, with a p-value of 0.007.
AbdollahiparsaHShahmirzalooATeuffelP, et al.A review of recent developments in structural applications of natural fiber-reinforced composites (NFRCs). Compos Adv Mater2023; 32: 26349833221147540.
2.
AkatwijukaOGepreelMAHAbdel-MawgoodA, et al.Overview of banana cellulosic fibers: agro-biomass potential, fiber extraction, properties, and sustainable applications. Biomass Convers Biorefinery2022; 14: 1–17.
3.
CaoD. Mechanical enhancement of natural-fiber-reinforced composites modified with recycled thermoset composite fillers. J Reinf Plast Compos2024. https://doi.org/10.1177/07316844241247896.
4.
HaddarMBen SlimYKoubaaS. Mechanical and water absorption behavior of thermoset matrices reinforced with natural fiber. Polym Compos2022; 43: 3481–3495.
5.
KirubakaranRRajkumarKRajeshM. Influencing behavior study of natural almond shell filler on the tensile, thermal, and free vibrational properties of flax fiber intertwined vinyl ester composites. J Nat Fibers2022; 19: 12959–12970.
6.
MatykiewiczDS. Hybrid epoxy composites with both powder and fiber filler: a review of mechanical and thermomechanical properties. Materials (Basel)2020; 13: 1802.
7.
AwajaFZhangSTripathiM, et al.Cracks, microcracks and fracture in polymer structures: formation, detection, autonomic repair. Prog Mater Sci2016; 83: 536–573.
8.
KuanHTNTanMYShenY, et al.Mechanical properties of particulate organic natural filler-reinforced polymer composite: a review. Compos Adv Mater2021; 30: 26349833211007502.
9.
MauryaAKManikG. Advances towards development of industrially relevant short natural fiber reinforced and hybridized polypropylene composites for various industrial applications: a review. J Polym Res2023; 30: 47.
10.
Lakshmi NarayanaSGopalanV. Mechanical characterization of particle reinforced jute fiber composite and development of hybrid Grey-ANFIS predictive model. J Nat Fibers2023; 20: 2167033.
11.
JagadeeshPPuttegowdaMThyavihalli GirijappaYG, et al.Effect of natural filler materials on fiber reinforced hybrid polymer composites: an overview. J Nat Fibers2022; 19: 4132–4147.
12.
RamrajiKArunkumarKSenthilkumarR, et al.Mechanical and thermomechanical behaviour of agro-waste almond shell biochar filler interlaced chemically treated flax fibre vinyl ester composites. Biomass Convers Biorefinery2023; 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-023-04840-3.
13.
OkaforCEOnovoACImoisiliPE, et al.Optimal route to robust hybridization of banana-coir fibre particulate in polymer matrix for automotive applications. Materialia2021; 16: 101098.
14.
DurowayeSILawalGIOlagbajuOI. Microstructure and mechanical properties of sisal particles reinforced polypropylene composite. Int J Compos Mater2014; 4: 190–195.
15.
MahmoodHMoniruzzamanMYusupS, et al.Particulate composites based on ionic liquid-treated oil palm fiber and thermoplastic starch adhesive. Clean Technol Environ Policy2016; 18: 2217–2226.
16.
MauryaAKde SouzaFMDawseyT, et al.Biodegradable polymers and composites: recent development and challenges. Polym Compos2024; 45: 2896–2918.
17.
MohanavelVSinghRP, Kuppusamy, et al. Effect of incorporation natural fillers with Sterculia foetida fiber on physical, mechanical, and thermal characterization of epoxy polymer composites. J Adv Manuf Technol2024; 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-023-12907-8.
18.
SathishTJagadeeshPRangappaSM, et al.Studies on mechanical and thermal properties of cellulosic fiber fillers reinforced epoxy composites. Polym Compos2022; 43: 4297–4305.
19.
de MeloKMdos SantosTFda Silva SantosCM, et al.Study of the reuse potential of the sisal fibers powder as a particulate material in polymer composites. JMR&T2019; 8: 4019–4025.
20.
DevadasANirmalUHossenJ. Investigation into mechanical & tribological performance of kenaf fibre particle reinforced composite. Cogent Eng2018; 5: 1479210.
21.
Makinde-IsolaBATaiwoASOladeleIO, et al.Development of sustainable and biodegradable materials: a review on banana and sisal fibre based polymer composites. J Reinf Plast Compos2024; 37: 519–1539.
22.
PriyaCBRavi KumarVUmamaheswariD, et al.Bio-degradable waste banana and neem fiber reinforced epoxy hybrid composites: characteristics study. J Mech Sci Technol2024; 38: 1891–1896.
23.
JayaramanPPaiARodriguez-MillanM, et al.Exploring acoustic properties of banana fiber composites with elastomeric filler through a computational approach. Mater Res Express2024; 11: 015508.
24.
BalajiAPurushothamanRUdhayasankarR, et al.Study on mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of banana fiber-reinforced epoxy composites. J Biol Tribol Corros2020; 6: 1–10.
25.
DoganAGunesC. Mechanical and thermal properties of short banana fiber reinforced polyoxymethylene composite materials dependent on alkali treatment. Mater Test2024; 66: 625–635.
26.
OtariSVJadhavJP. Seaweed-based biodegradable biopolymers, composite, and blends with applications. Bioremediation using weeds. Singapore: Springer, 2021, 121–149.
27.
MadhuSBalasubramanianM. Influence of seaweed filler on dry sliding wear of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites. J Nat Fibers2022; 19: 1609–1619.
28.
SaadFUSMSalimNRoslanR. Physical and mechanical properties of kenaf/seaweed reinforced polypropylene composite. Mater Today Proc2022; 51: 1372–1375.
29.
JumaidinRSapuanSMJawaidM, et al.Effect of seaweed on mechanical, thermal, and biodegradation properties of thermoplastic sugar palm starch/agar composites. Int J Biol Macromol2017; 99: 265–273.
30.
GuptaA. Improvement of physiochemical properties of short bamboo fiber-reinforced composites using ceramic fillers. J Nat Fibers2020; 17: 1582–1593.
31.
KhalajMZarabi GolkhatmiSAlemSAA, et al.Recent progress in the study of thermal properties and tribological behaviors of hexagonal boron nitride-reinforced composites. J Compos Sci2020; 4: 116.
32.
AgrawalAChandrakarS. Influence of particulate surface treatment on physical, mechanical, thermal, and dielectric behavior of epoxy/hexagonal boron nitride composites. Polym Compos2020; 41: 1574–1583.
33.
KushwahaADPatelBAgrawalA. Fabrication and characterisation of polyester/hexagonal boron nitride/sisal fibre hybrid composites for microelectronic applications. Aust J Mech Eng2023; 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/14484846.2023.2236783.
34.
AgrawalAChandrakerS. An experimental investigation of epoxy-based hybrid composites with hexagonal boron nitride and short sisal fiber as reinforcement for high performance microelectronic applications. Polym Eng Sci2022; 62: 160–173.
35.
PasareSSMaySuresha B.. Mechanical and tribological properties of carbon fabric reinforced epoxy composites with and without boron nitride filler. In AIP Conference proceedings. AIP Publishing, 2020, p. 2236.
36.
BasriMSMMustaphaFMazlanN, et al.Optimization of rice husk ash-based geopolymers coating composite for enhancement in flexural properties and microstructure using response surface methodology. Coatings2020; 10: 165.
37.
MirzaeiJFereidoonAGhasemi-GhalebahmanA. Experimental analysis of mechanical properties of graphene/kenaf/basalt reinforced hybrid nanocomposites using response surface methodology. J Braz Soc Mech Sci Eng2021; 43: 1–14.
38.
BoubliaALebouacheraSEIHaddaouiN, et al.State-of-the-art review on recent advances in polymer engineering: modeling and optimization through response surface methodology approach. Polym Bull2023; 80: 5999–6031.
39.
SinghaASThakurVK. Mechanical properties of natural fibre reinforced polymer composites. Bull Mater Sci2008; 31: 791–799.
40.
RongLSuJLiZ, et al.Silicon hybridization for the preparation of room-temperature curing and high-temperature-resistant epoxy resin. Polymers (Basel)2024; 16: 634.
41.
FerdousWManaloAAravinthanT, et al.Properties of epoxy polymer concrete matrix: effect of resin-to-filler ratio and determination of optimal mix for composite railway sleepers. Constr Build Mater2016; 124: 287–300.
42.
KhiengTKDebnathSTing Chaw LiangE, et al.A review on mechanical properties of natural fibre reinforced polymer composites under various strain rates. J Compos Sci2021; 5: 130.
43.
YigaVALubwamaMPagelS, et al.Optimization of tensile strength of PLA/clay/rice husk composites using Box–Behnken design. Biomass Convers Biorefinery2021; 13: 1–27.
44.
HassanMZRoslanSASapuanSM, et al.Mercerization optimization of bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) fiber-reinforced epoxy composite structures using a Box–Behnken design. Polymers (Basel)2020; 12: 1367.
45.
SahaAKumarSKumarA. Influence of pineapple leaf particulate on mechanical, thermal and biodegradation characteristics of pineapple leaf fiber reinforced polymer composite. J Polym Res2021; 28: 1–23.
46.
PerryJIWalleySM. Measuring the effect of strain rate on deformation and damage in fibre-reinforced composites: a review. J Dyn Behav Mater2022; 8: 178–213.
47.
GiorcelliMKhanAPugnoNM, et al.Biochar as a cheap and environmental friendly filler able to improve polymer mechanical properties. Biomass Bioenergy2019; 120: 219–223.
48.
LiangJZ. Effects of tension rates and filler size on tensile properties of polypropylene/graphene nano-platelets composites. Compos B Eng2019; 167: 241–249.
49.
PintoDeesy GRodriguesJBernardoL. A review on thermoplastic or thermosetting polymeric matrices used in polymeric composites manufactured with banana fibers from the pseudostem. Appl Sci2020; 10: 3023. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/app10093023.
50.
KirubakaranRSalunkeDRPitchumaniSV, et al.Development of hBN/natural fibres reinforced polymer composites using grey relation grade analysis for thermal and electrical applications. Funct Compos Struct2024; 6: 025002.
Supplementary Material
Please find the following supplemental material available below.
For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.
For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.
