Exploring the use of TiO 2 filler in short Ficus Benghalensis natural fibre-based polymeric composites

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of adding Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) particles as a filler material in natural Ficus Benghalensis (FB) fiber-reinforced hybrid polymer composites on their dry sliding wear performance. The composites were fabricated using a hand stir technique, with varying weight fractions of Ficus Benghalensis fibers and TiO₂ as filler material into an epoxy matrix. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis was conducted to examine the bonding strength. Various physico-mechanical properties of the composites were evaluated, including density, water absorption, tensile & flexural properties, and micro-hardness, under different weight fractions of fibers. The inclusion of 5 wt. % TiO₂ particles raise the tensile strength of all composites by 6–10% compared to unfilled composites. The addition of 5 wt. % TiO₂ particles and increasing FB fiber content in the composites enhance the micro-hardness of the raw epoxy. Specifically, the micro-hardness of the composites increases from 0.085 GPa to 0.274 GPa, 0.361 GPa, and 0.444 GPa for 2, 4, and 6 wt. % FB fibers, respectively. Sliding wear tests were also performed on the composites to assess their surface response, and the influence of the specific control parameters (sliding velocity, sliding distance, normal load, and fiber content) on the output performance was determined using Taguchi's L9 orthogonal array. The results showed that the addition of 5 wt. % TiO₂ particles improved the tensile strength (6–10%), flexural strength (3–5%), and hardness (11–22%) of the composites compared to unfilled composites. The fiber content was found to have the greatest effect on the sliding wear rate, followed by the sliding velocity, with sliding distance and normal load having negligible influence. Overall, the study highlights the potential of TiO₂ as a filler material in Ficus Benghalensis/epoxy matrix composites to improve their mechanical and wear properties.