PSI - Issue 70

Karthick Rasu et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 70 (2025) 619–626

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Kabir et al. (2025) studied coir and pineapple leaf fiber-reinforced composites, achieving 53.93 J/cm² impact strength, 31.94 MPa tensile strength, 46.365 MPa flexural strength, and a rockwell hardness of 77. Fiber orientation and mat type were key factors affecting mechanical properties, showcasing the potential of these composites as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic materials. Akhter et al. (2025) investigated epoxy composites reinforced with jute and coconut fibers, incorporating different proportions of rice husk ash (RHA) for potential wall insulation applications. Among the samples, the composite containing 3% RHA and jute fiber demonstrated superior performance, achieving a tensile strength of 50.07 MPa, an elastic modulus of 2.85 GPa, and a thermal conductivity of 0.03697 W/m·K. Their findings suggest that this specific combination is highly suitable for thermal insulation, promoting sustainability through the effective use of agricultural by-products. Dev et al. (2024) developed jute/snake plant fiber epoxy composites with varying ratios. The 25% jute/75% snake plant composite showed the best mechanical properties, while the 75% jute/25% snake plant composite had the lowest thermal conductivity (0.20 W/mK). These composites, with moderate thermal stability and reduced water absorption, are suitable for applications like aircraft panels and helmets. Das et al. (2024) developed biodegradable flexible composites using jute fiber and thermoplastic corn starch (TPCS) for eco friendly packaging. Composites with 50% fiber content showed a tensile strength of 12.8 MPa, significantly higher than the TPCS film (3.1 MPa). A polyurethane coating made the material water-resistant, with no penetration after 60 minutes. The study indicates the material is ideal for sustainable packaging and lifestyle products. Bhatt et al. (2024) fabricated epoxy methacrylate-based sandwich composites with various natural fibers, including alkali-treated jute. Alkali-treated composites exhibited improved mechanical properties and lower moisture absorption in comparison to their untreated counterparts. Despite their relatively high water uptake, both treated and untreated composites demonstrated strong chemical resistance to acids, bases, and salts. According to Arulmurugan et al. (2024) the influence of ultraviolet (UV) exposure on polyester composites reinforced with jute fiber and modified with nanoclay was examined. The presence of nanoclay significantly limited the decline in mechanical performance, reducing losses in tensile, flexural, and impact strength by 19.86%, 9.38%, and 13.53%, respectively. This improvement in durability was attributed to the barrier effect of the nanoclay layers, which helped shield the composite from UV-induced degradation. Nandan et al. (2023) developed a hybrid bio-composite with cotton and coir fiber reinforcement in a paper matrix. The 20 wt% coir composite showed better tensile strength (2.678 N/mm²) and impact resistance (0.15 J) compared to standard packaging paper. However, higher coir content increased water absorption by 142.4%, making it unsuitable for carry bags. Thermal stability was similar to conventional materials. Kumar et al. (2023) studied the impact of adding silicon dioxide hybrid filler on the mechanical characteristics of natural fiber reinforced composites. Mechanical tests showed significant improvements in strength, highlighting the benefits of silicon dioxide in enhancing composite performance. Kareem et al. (2023) developed natural fiber composites using banana and coir fibers with a natural resin matrix, fabricated by the hand lay-up method. Composites with varying fiber volume fractions were tested for mechanical and physical behaviours according to ASTM standards, and the results were compared for different compositions. Anbalagan et al. (2023) prepared polyester-based composites reinforced with varying proportions of banana and sisal fibers (40:60, 50:50, and 60:40) using the compression molding technique. The composites were evaluated for compressive strength, impact resistance, hardness, thermal stability through TGA, and moisture absorption. Among the samples, the composite containing 40% banana and 60% sisal fibers exhibited the most favorable mechanical properties, whereas the sample with 60% banana fibers absorbed more moisture. Sahoo et al. (2022) investigated the effect of stacking order on the mechanical properties of banana and snake grass fiber hybrid composites in an epoxy matrix. Treated with NaOH, the composites showed improved tensile, compressive, and flexural strengths, with the best results (14.25%, 11.76%, and 20.6% increases) observed when banana fibers were placed at the ends and alternated within the layers. J et al. (2022) investigated the wear behavior of epoxy-based hybrid composites reinforced with jute, kenaf, and banana fibers. The composites were fabricated through compression molding and tested using an air jet erosion apparatus. The findings indicated that erosion-induced material loss increased with longer exposure durations, with peak erosion observed at a 60° impingement angle, reflecting a semi-ductile erosion response. Samal & Pradhan (2020) examined and compared the mechanical behavior of epoxy composites reinforced with hybrid combinations of sisal-jute and jute-banana fibers. The natural fibers underwent alkali treatment using a 1% NaOH solution and were blended in equal proportions. A resin-to-hardener ratio of 10:1 was used during fabrication. The study observed that both tensile and flexural strengths improved with increasing fiber content, achieving maximum values at a 50% fiber volume fraction. Shrivastava et al. (2017) studied