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An experiential research on mechanical and tribological characteristics of snake grass and sisal fiber reinforced hybrid polymer (epoxy) composites was carried out and reported in this article. The snake grass and sisal fibers were initially treated with 5% sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Hybrid composite samples were fabricated using a compression moulding technique with a total fiber weight ratio of 30% and an epoxy resin weight ratio of 70%. The proportions of snake grass and sisal fibers in the hybrid composites were 70:30, 50:50, and 30:70. The fabricated hybrid composite samples were subjected to flexural, tensile, interlaminar shear strength, Shore D hardness, water absorption, and wear tests as per ASTM international standards, and the outcomes were compared with the results of snake grass and sisal mono fiber composites. The results disclosed that the 30:70 (SG:S) hybrid composite has higher mechanical characteristics than those of other hybrid and mono fiber composites. Also, the 30:70 hybrid sample performed at par with the sisal mono composite in wear and water absorption characteristics. Optical microscopy examination of alkali-treated natural hybrid and mono fiber composites displayed excellent results in terms of interfacial bonding between polymer and fiber.

The development of complete natural composite with natural fiber and natural resin is one of the challenges in the material era. To address the issue, this research article is aimed to study the po...

This article reports the deliverables of the experimental study on the production of a completely renewable biofuel from Manilkara zapota fruit. It was attempted to produce fatty acid ethyl ester from Manilkara zapota seed oil using bioethanol synthesized from decayed Manilkara zapota fruit. Bioethanol was produced through fermentation of decayed Manilkara zapota fruit, waste skin, and pulp with Saccharomyces cerevisiae then extracted by distillation process at the temperature of 72°C. The bioethanol yield was noted as 10.45% (v/w). The purity of the bio-ethanol was identified as 95.09% using infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Mechanically extracted Manilkara zapota seed oil was used for ethyl ester production. The molar ratio of bioethanol to oil, the quantity of KOH, and process temperature were optimized for the maximum yield of Manilkara zapota ethyl ester. 9:1 molar ratio of bioethanol to oil, 1.5% (w/w) KOH, and 70°C process temperature were identified as optimized ethanolysis process parameters. The maximum yield of ethyl ester was identified as 93.1%. Physicochemical characteristics of Manilkara zapota oil, bioethanol, and ethyl ester were measured as per the corresponding ASTM standards. It was found that both Manilkara Zapota ethyl ester and bioethanol synthesized from decayed Manilkara zapota fruit could be promising substitutes for fossil diesel and gasoline.