PSI - Issue 70

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

621

hybrid composites of coir and glass fibers reinforced with epoxy resin. Coir fibers were treated with sodium hydroxide to enhance bonding and reduce moisture absorption. The mechanical properties varied with fiber volume and length, improving composite performance while remaining cost-effective and biodegradable. Rathore & Pradhan (2017) focused on sustainable material development by using banana and jute fibers in a natural polymer matrix to create eco-friendly hybrid composites. The study highlights the benefits of cellulose nanoparticles in reinforcing composites, exploring their preparation, properties, advantages, and applications. Pujari et al. (2017) studied the swelling behavior of jute and banana fiber-reinforced epoxy composites for various applications. Results showed that jute composites absorbed less water. The study also found that artificial neural networks (ANN) outperformed regression in predicting the physical properties of the composites. Deepak et al. (2017) enhanced the wear properties of epoxy resin composites by adding molybdenum disulphide (5%, 10%, and 15%). The study evaluated wear, tensile, flexural, and impact properties, and used SEM to analyze the worn surfaces, showing improved wear resistance with the addition of molybdenum disulphide. Bansal et al. (2017) investigated bamboo, jute, and coir fiber-reinforced epoxy composites. The bamboo-coir composite outperformed the others in impact, FTIR, and hardness tests. Future research will focus on varying fiber compositions and sizes for bamboo-coir composites. Adhikari & Gowda (2017) The mechanical behavior of banana/jute hybrid polyester composites was examined across fiber loadings ranging from 5% to 25%. The highest tensile and flexural strengths were achieved at a 15% fiber content, whereas impact strength continued to rise with increasing fiber content up to 25%. Additionally, a slight enhancement in mechanical properties was observed with greater specimen thickness. Based on the available literature, the proposed study aims to develop and evaluate the mechanical behaviours (hardness, impact, tensile, and flexural) of Banana, Coir, and Jute fiber-reinforced composites. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Materials This study uses Banana, Coir, and Jute fibers as reinforcements in epoxy-based hybrid polymer composites. Banana fiber provides high tensile strength and biodegradability, coir offers moisture resistance and durability, while jute is cost-effective with good tensile strength. Fibers will be surface-treated with alkali (NaOH) to enhance adhesion by removing impurities and increasing roughness. Epoxy resin is selected for its strong mechanical properties and compatibility with natural fibers. The proposed hybrid composites reinforced with Coir, Banana, and Jute fibers were fabricated using the hand lay up method, a simple and widely used technique. The natural fibers were first cleaned and surface-treated with a 1% NaOH solution to improve adhesion with the resin, then dried to remove moisture. Epoxy resin was mixed with hardener in a 10:1 ratio and stirred thoroughly. The mold was coated with a release agent for easy demolding. Fiber layers were placed alternately (Banana, Coir, Jute) in the mold, with epoxy resin applied over each layer to ensure full saturation. After layering, the composite was compressed to ensure uniform thickness and proper bonding, then cured at 60 – 80°C for 6 – 8 hours. After curing, the composite was demolded and trimmed. A post-curing process at higher temperatures was also performed to enhance mechanical properties. Table 1 summarizes the specific fiber compositions and volume fractions used in the samples, which were varied to study their effects on mechanical behavior. Fabrication process of composites is presented in Fig. 1. 2.2. Fabrication of composites

Table 1. Fabrication details of composites Sample No.

Fiber combination

Fiber volume fraction (%) 60% Fiber, 40% Matrix 60% Fiber, 40% Matrix 60% Fiber, 40% Matrix 60% Fiber, 40% Matrix 60% Fiber, 40% Matrix

Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4 Sample 5

50% Banana + 50% Coir 50% Banana + 50% Jute 60% Coir + 40% Jute

40% Banana + 30% Coir + 30% Jute 33% Banana + 33% Coir + 34% Jute