| Abstrakt: |
This study has demonstrated the characteristics of novel finger millet husk biosilica (FMB) and Digitaria ischaemumfibre (DIF)-reinforced epoxy composites. Since there is no previous studies revealing the utilization of silane-treated FMB and base-treated DIF together in epoxy composite as alternative for man-made fibres and fillers, the present study’s objectives were designed such a way to study the effect of fibre and particle addition on the mechanical, wear, and hydrophobic behaviour of epoxy composite. The biosilica was synthesized from the waste finger millet husks via thermo-chemical process and silane treated. Through hand layup process, the composites were produced, and they were analyzed as per the ASTM standards. The results revealed that the highest tensile strength of 134 MPa, flexural strength of 168 MPa, compressive strength of 145 MPa, and the tensile and flexural modulus of 5.9 and 6.28 GPa, as well as the Izod impact strength of 4.62 J/m, were observed for composite designation N3. However, increased biosilica vol. % up to 5.0 resulted in the lower wear loss of 0.013 mm3/Nm and COF of 0.266 for the composite designation N4. The water absorption percentage and the contact angle for all composite designations are lower than 0.4% and higher than 70°, indicating that all composite designations are in hydrophobic nature. Moreover, the SEM fractography shows that the composite designation N3 shows enhanced fibre-matrix interface bonding and uniform particle dispersion. These properties improved composites could be used as functional material in automobile sector and structural and domestic infrastructure products like man hole covers, gratings, and anti-termite FRP slab panels. |
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