Effect of alumina fillers on physical and mechanical properties of luffa/groundnut shell natural fiber reinforced polymer composites

• Published in: Polymer composites 2024-08, Vol.45 (11), p.10457-10469
• Main Authors: Senthil Kumar, Maruthamuthu Shanmugam, Sivakumar, Muthusamy, Senthil, Sathyamangalam Munusamy, Rajeshkumar, Lakshminarasimhan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alumina; Aluminum oxide; Ceramic fibers; failure morphology; Fiber composites; Fiber reinforced polymers; Fillers; Groundnuts; Hand lay-up; Hybrid composites; Impact strength; Mechanical properties; natural fibers; Particulate composites; Physical properties; Polymer matrix composites; Polymers
• ISSN: 0272-8397; 1548-0569
• DOI: 10.1002/pc.28487

This study aims to investigate the physical and mechanical properties of epoxy composites reinforced with hybrid luffa waste and groundnut shell waste natural fibers and to evaluate the effect of different filler loadings of alumina on the mechanical behavior of the hybrid composites. The luffa fibers were made to undergo mercerization in 10% NaOH solution. All the treated fibers and the alumina fillers were characterized using X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The study used three different filler loadings of alumina (Al2O3) (5%, 10%, and 15% by volume) and three different fractions of treated luffa‐waste groundnut shell hybrid fibers (10%, 30%, and 50% by volume). The composites were fabricated using the hand layup technique, and the prepared test specimens were subjected to mechanical and physical properties testing as per ASTM standards. The experimental findings indicated that the inclusion of Al2O3 filler improved the physical and mechanical characteristics of the natural fiber‐reinforced hybrid composites. The results showed that the composites with 30 vol. % fibers (1:1 luffa fiber: groundnut shell fiber) and 10 vol. % Al2O3 content showed enhanced tensile, flexural, shear, and impact strength and hardness. Besides, a good synergy between the alumina fillers, natural fibers, and the polymer matrix was observed in the surface morphology of the composite specimen. The developed composites can be used in low and medium‐load‐bearing structural and non‐structural applications. Highlights Development of hybrid polymer composites with luffa and novel groundnut shell fibers Hybridization of alumina ceramic particles with natural fiber hybrid composites Assessment of physical and mechanical properties of the polymer composites Mechanical Properties of Luffa/Groundnutshell/Alumina hybrid composites.