Experimental and characterization studies on opuntia fibre with biosilica filler reinforced polymer matrix composite

Abstract

newline For a variety of technical applications, an epoxy biocomposite was produced utilising opuntia (Opuntia dillenii) fibre and sugarcane bagasse biosilica. The mechanical, wear, thermal, dynamic mechanical analysis, fatigue toughness, drilling characteristics and optimization of the drilling process of an epoxy composite toughened with sugarcane bagasse biosilica (SBB) and opuntia fibre (OF) were investigated in this work. The primary purpose of this research was to improve the load-bearing capability of a highly brittle matrix by utilising environmentally friendly fibre and particles. The harvested opuntia was immersed in the water for several hours to make the cladodes completely wet and hammered to separate the fibres present. The separated fibres were washed various times and dried in sunlight for removing the acquired water molecules. Similarly, the biosilica particle from sugarcane bagasse is converted to biosilica via the thermo-chemical method. The opuntia short fibres and biosilica particles were silane treated with 3-Aminopropyltrimethoxy silane in an aqueous solution (APTMS). The composite was made by hand layup and cured at room temperature for 24 hours. Specimens were cut from moulded epoxy hybrid composites using an abrasive water jet machine set to the requirements according to the ASTM standard. The mechanical characteristics of a composite comprising 0.5 vol. % biosilica and 30% opuntia natural fibre improved as a result of tensile, flexural, and impact toughness. Similarly, the PS4 composite performed best in terms of wear resistance. Thermal stability experiments found that surface-treated sugarcane bagasse biosilica particles at 1. vol. % concentration has the greatest glass transition temperature. The dynamic mechanical examination of PS4 shows an increase in energy storage. The greatest storage modulus was found to be 4.34GPa, with a loss factor of 0.71. The fatigue resistance of an opuntia fibre and biosilica particle composite was enhanced.