Mechanical characterization of sisal fiber-groundnut shell powder reinforced epoxy composites

Abstract

This study focuses on sustainable materials across various engineering fields, specifically investigating natural fibre-reinforced composites. It examines the mechanical properties of epoxy composites reinforced with sisal fibre and groundnut shell powder through a comparative analysis. The innovative aspect of this research lies in the variety of sisal fibre and groundnut shell powder ratios used to create the composites: 100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80, and 0:100. The composites were fabricated using the hand-laying technique. To evaluate their durability, the composites underwent a series of tests, including assessments of elasticity, flexibility, impact resistance, and hardness. The samples exhibiting the best tensile, flexural, and impact strengths were subjected to a comprehensive examination using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to analyse their internal structure, identify cracks, and observe surface characteristics on the broken surfaces. The findings indicate significant variations in mechanical properties based on the different ratios of sisal fibre and groundnut shell powder used for reinforcement. The composite with a cellulose fibre to groundnut powder ratio of 20:80 demonstrated the highest tensile strength, while the composite with a 100:0 ratio exhibited superior flexural strength. Additionally, the laminate with 100% sisal fibre reinforcement exhibited enhanced impact strength, and the 60:40 ratio presented the maximum hardness.