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Exploring the Effect of Natural Ficus benghalensis Tree Aerial Root Powder on the Mechanical Properties of Basalt-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites

Authors :
Suhas Yeshwant Nayak
Anupama Hiremath
Gururaj Bolar
Atharva Sachin Punekar
Shivam Prakash
Hrithik Shetty
Jeppu Pramod Jaideep
Source :
Journal of Composites Science, Vol 7, Iss 12, p 493 (2023)
Publication Year :
2023
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2023.

Abstract

Banyan aerial root (BAR) powder was prepared from the aerial roots of a Banyan tree to modify epoxy resin using a magnetic stirrer. The modification was performed at different proportions of BAR powder, namely, 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%, by weight. Composites were fabricated with modified and unmodified resins using a combination of hand lay-up and compression molding processes to evaluate the influence of BAR powders on their mechanical properties. The test results showed that BAR powder incorporation had a positive influence on the mechanical properties of the composites, as an increase in tensile, flexural, and impact strengths was observed, with the highest tensile and flexural properties of 407.81 MPa and 339 MPa, respectively, seen in composites with 4% BAR and the highest impact strength 194.02 kJ/m2 observed in the specimen with 6% BAR powder. Though the properties saw a dipping trend at higher weight proportions of the particulate, they were still significantly higher than the properties of laminates prepared with unmodified resin. Gravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) on BAR powders confirmed cellulose to be the major constituent, followed by lignin and hemicellulose. A scanning electron microscope was used for studying the failure mechanisms of the laminates.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2504477X
Volume :
7
Issue :
12
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Journal of Composites Science
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.6216e45418f42b3b25e16735e0f94a5
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs7120493