In this research mechanical, thermal, and water uptake behaviour of silane-treated sea-urchin spike filler and kenaf fibre mat-reinforced neem oil blended epoxy resin composite has been studied. The principal aim of this research was fabrication of eco-friendly composite and explicit the importance of silane-treatment on reinforcement’s surface. Neem oil blended with epoxy resin to convert it as an eco-friendly one, whereas additions of kenaf fibre and sea urchin particles into neem-epoxy matrix made the composites tougher. Both filler and fibre was surface-treated by an amino silane (APTMS). The results revealed that, additions of surface-treated sea urchin particle and kenaf fibre increased the mechanical properties of composite. Similarly thermal results exposed that addition of sea urchin bio ceramic filler increased the thermal stability of neem-epoxy bio composite. SEM fractograph showed uniform dispersion of sea urchin filler and improved adhesion of kenaf fibre with epoxy matrix.

Fabrication and characterization of echinoidea spike particles and kenaf natural fibre-reinforced Azadirachta-Indica blended epoxy multi-hybrid bio composite

In this present study the effect of adding silicon coupling grafted ferric oxide and E-glass fibre in thermal stability, wear and fatigue behaviour of epoxy resin hybrid composite was investigated. The principal aim of this research was explicating the importance of silicon coupling grafted E-glass fibre and ferric oxide particle in thermal stability, wear and fatigue properties of epoxy hybrid composite. Ferric oxide particles of 800, 200 and < 100 nm and E-glass fibre of 600 GSM was used as second phase additions in epoxy resin with surface grafted condition. The surface grafting was done using 3-Aminopropyletrimethoxylane via aqueous solution method with acetic acid as pH adjuster. The improvement of 80% was observed in initial thermal stability of surface grafted E-glass fibre epoxy composite on comparing with un-modified glass-epoxy composite. Similar improvements were noted in rapid and final decomposition stages also. The lower specific wear rate of 0.002 was observed for surface grafted E-glass and ferric oxide added composite designation EGFI11. The worn surface frcatograph explicated flat and smooth wear track surface for surface grafted composite designations. A highest fatigue life cycle of 18,724 is observed for surface modified composite designation EGFI21. These thermally stable and high wear resistance and fatigue strengthened composites could be used in automobile, aircrafts and domestic applications.

Effect of Silicon Coupling Grafted Ferric Oxide and E-Glass Fibre in Thermal Stability, Wear and Tensile Fatigue Behaviour of Epoxy Hybrid Composite

In this research the effect of adding silicon carbide nano whiskers (SiCw) into epoxy resin and the impact of reinforcing surface treated SiC wire-mesh (SiCwm) and woven aloevera/hemp/flax fibers (NF) were studied. The principal aim of this work was demonstrating the importance of adding SiCw (0.5 and 1.0 vol.%) and SiC wire-mesh with economical natural fibres (50 vol.%) and silane surface treatment on natural fibres in mechanical and low velocity impact behavior. The SiCw and natural fibres were surface treated by 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane whereas SiC wire-mesh was shot blasted. The composites were cured at room temperature using an aliphatic hardener Triethylenetetramine (TETA). The strength factor results showed that the silane surface modified composite designation ‘H4’ gave highest normalized strength of 98%. The highest tensile and flexural strength of 141 and 240 MPa was observed for silane surface modified composite designation ‘H4’. The low velocity impact damage behavior of ‘H4’ composite designation showed higher resistance against to penetration. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) morphological images showed uniform dispersion of surface-modified SiCw in epoxy resin. Similarly the silane treated natural fibre and shot blasted SiC wire-mesh given improved adhesion with matrix. These high damping polymer composites offers their application in automobile, structural and domestic sector.

Low Velocity Impact and Mechanical Behaviour of Shot Blasted SiC Wire-Mesh and Silane-Treated Aloevera/Hemp/Flax-Reinforced SiC Whisker Modified Epoxy Resin Composites

Epoxy bio composite was prepared using areca fibre, nano-silica and toughened by neem oil bio blender (anti-microbial content) for various engineering applications The principal aim of this research work is to reveal the need and importance of adding nano-silica particles (a natural antibacterial substance) into neem oil when it is blended with epoxy resin to form a bio-composite The nano-silica particle and areca fibre have been surface-treated by an amino silane 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) for better dispersion on neem-epoxy blended matrix medium The composites were prepared using hand layup method with post-cured at 120 °C in a hot oven The composites have been tested in accordance with ASTM standards The visco-elastic analysis shows that the storage modulus of 2 vol% of nano-silica particles in 30 vol% of areca-reinforced epoxy-neem composite found to be higher up to 98 GPa at room temperature and 18 GPa at 120 °C The loss factor also found to be higher at the glass transition temperature The differential scanning calorimetry results showed that the composites contain 2 vol% of nano-silica particles retains the glass transition (Tg) at higher neem oil blending (20 vol%) as higher than epoxy resin The antimicrobial behaviour of neem-epoxy composite was increased by the addition of 2 vol% of nano-silica Finally, the electrical insulation studies revealed that the composites built with non-polar neem oil and partial polar nano-silica not altered the electrical resistance much These antimicrobial enhanced and thermo-mechanically strengthened epoxy bio composites could be used as food storage containers, medical components carrier and domestic appliance manufacturing

Visco-Elastic, Thermal, Antimicrobial and Dielectric Behaviour of Areca Fibre-Reinforced Nano-silica and Neem Oil-Toughened Epoxy Resin Bio Composite

High toughness and high-impact damage resistance fibre-metal hybrid laminate epoxy composites were prepared and characterized In this present research, a hybrid fibre-metal laminate was reinforced into SiC-toughened epoxy resin for making high performance structural material for automobile and aircraft applications Novel natural fibre caryota urens and silicon carbide (SiC) particles were surface-treated using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) whereas the aluminium foil was sandblasted The hybrid fibre-metal laminate with different stacking sequenced epoxy composites were prepared using vacuum bag moulding followed by post curing A highest strength factor of 97 is observed for composite designation CAC1, which contains 05 vol% of SiC The drop load impact toughness of ACA1 composite gives the highest energy absorption of 206 J Similarly, the CAC1 composite designation gives fracture toughness of 321 MPa

$$ \sqrt{\mathrm{m}} $$
 and energy release rate of 1557 mJ/m2 The scanning electron microscope images revealed highly reacted phase of surface-treated reinforcements with epoxy resin matrix

Strength characterization of caryota urens fibre and aluminium 2024-T3 foil multi-stacking sequenced SiC-toughened epoxy structural composite

In this current effort a study was made on UP blended epoxy thermosetting polymer and their properties when amino-silane treated e-glass fibre and iron(III)oxide particles were reinforced. The primary goal of this work is to toughen the brittle epoxy resin by blending low strength unsaturated polyester resin. Blending of low strength polyester reduced the brittleness of epoxy with inferior in some mechanical and thermal properties; hence silane treated e-glass fibre and iron(III)oxide particles was reinforced with UP/epoxy polymer blend to improve thermal and mechanical properties. Particle size of 200 nm and glass fibre of 600 g/m2 was used as reinforcements. Fibres and particles were surface treated by an amino silane (APTMS). Usefulness of particles and fibres addition was unveiled by mechanical, thermal, and dielectric properties. The reduced mechanical properties were increased when e-glass fibre and iron(III)oxide filler was reinforced. Glass transition temperature and degradation stability was less for UP/epoxy systems than pure epoxy whereas addition of filler increased Tg and degradation stability. The dielectric results showed increased dielectric constant and loss for UP blended epoxy composite.

Arunprakash Vincent

Papers

Effect of Silane Modified E-glass Fibre/Iron(III)Oxide Reinforcements on UP Blended Epoxy Resin Hybrid Composite