Enhanced Thermal and Flexural Properties of Alkalized Date Palm/Kenaf Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Hybrid Composites: A Comparative Study of Untreated and Treated Fibers

Autor: Syed Waheedullah Ghori, G. Srinivasa Rao, Ali A Rajhi, Alaauldeen A. Duhduh, Vineet Tirth
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Natural Fibers, Vol 21, Iss 1 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 15440478
1544-046X
1544-0478
DOI: 10.1080/15440478.2024.2421803
Popis: This study evaluates the thermal and mechanical behavior of hybrid composites made from date palm (DP) and kenaf fibers (KF) in an epoxy thermoset matrix. Both DP and KF fibers are abundant and renewable, reducing environmental impact. KF offers high tensile strength and stiffness, improving composite strength and rigidity, while DP fibers offer toughness and impact resistance, enhancing durability. The composites were developed in 30%, 50%, and 70% DP-KF compositions using layup and hot-pressing methods. Fiber treatment through alkalization was analyzed for its impact on mechanical and thermal properties to find the optimal fiber ratio. The hybrid composites were subjected to DMA, TGA, and flexural tests. The treated composites exhibited fewer impurities and increased cellulose content, resulting in enhanced flexural performance. This improvement was evident through higher storage modulus, lower loss modulus, and reduced tan δ when exposed to thermal stress. The 30% DP and 70% KF composites exhibited best performance. The treated 30DP-70KF exhibited improvement in the flexural strength and modulus by 13.8% and 2.7%, respectively. TGA demonstrated that treated 30DP-70KF composites had a higher glass transition temperature (Tg) and better thermal degradation resistance. These findings highlight the potential of natural fiber hybrids in creating sustainable, high-performance composite materials for construction and industrial applications.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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