Fabrication and characterization of neem oil toughened areca fibre reinforced epoxy resin composite

Abstract

In this research study an epoxy bio composite was made using areca fibre (betel palm fibre), nano-silica, and toughened with neem oil bio blender (anti-microbial content). The main goal of this study was to show how important it is to incorporate the cost effective, mechanically stronger and thermally stable nano-silica particle and antimicrobial content enriched neem oil into the epoxy resin based bio-composite. For enhanced dispersion over a neem-epoxy blended matrix media, the nano-silica particle and areca fibre were surface-treated with an amino silane 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). Hand layup was used to create the composites, which were then post-cured in a hot air oven at 120°C. The composites were tested based on ASTM guidelines and the average values were computed by testing at least 5 similar samples. According to the results the energy storage behaviour of the epoxy composites was improved by the addition of neem oil. Adding soft molecules of neem oil to the resin, on the other hand, lowered the tensile, flexural and hardness properties. Even after that, the mechanical properties were enhanced by adding areca fibre and nanosilica particles. newlineThe results of differential scanning calorimetry revealed that composites containing 2vol. % of nano-silica particles maintain the glass transition (Tg) value of composite even after the neem oil was blended up to 20 vol. %. The addition of 2 vol. % nano-silica to the neem-epoxy composite improved its antibacterial properties. Electrical insulation tests found that composites made with non-polar neem oil and partially polar nano-silica did not significantly modify electrical resistance. After adding neem oil, areca fibre, and nanosilica particle to epoxy composites, the energy absorption rates of low velocity drop load impact toughness increased. newline