No abstract

In this study, the effect of secondary filler nanographene and primary filler nanoaluminum oxide with kenaf epoxy was investigated. The vacuum bagging process was performed, and a magnetic stirrer was used for blending additives. Water absorption (borewell, distilled, normal, and seawater) and chemical absorption (acid, base, and neutral solution) tests were carried out to evaluate the water absorption, chemical absorption, thickness swelling, and diffusivity of the composite with varying percentages of fillers. The result demonstrates that the addition of 6% primary and 3% secondary filler together, increases the density of the sample by 13.5% and decreases void content by 77%. The addition of secondary filler lowers water absorption in normal water by 1.3% compared to other types of water, as the addition of secondary filler increases the water absorption decreases by 70% in borewell water, 75% in distilled water, 76% in normal water, and 69% in seawater. Thickness swelling of the samples decreases upon the addition of secondary fillers. In acid, the primary and secondary fillers increase the resistance to dissolution. The diffusivity rate of the sample with a combination of fillers 1.3 × 10−5.

This study aims to investigate the mechanical properties of hybrid polymer composites and the addition of primary and secondary additives such as nano-aluminium oxide and nano graphene, to Kenaf epoxy composites. A vacuum-bagging method was used to fabricate the composites. The advantage of vacuum bagging is the reduction of blowholes. The weight ratio of Kenaf fiber 50-60%, matrix 40%, and additives nano-aluminium oxide 0-6%, nano graphene 0-3% were considered. Mechanical properties like Tensile strength, young’s modulus and elongation, flexural strength, flexural modulus, hardness, impact strength, and compression strength were tested.6% nano aluminium oxide and 3% nano graphene show a 125% increase in the tensile strength, a 45% increase in flexural strength, and almost four times higher flexural modulus recorded. 42% increase in compression strength, increase in 40% impact strength. The highest Vickers hardness value of 27.An increase in the combination of primary and secondary fillers increased the mechanical properties.
The research work is the authors own original work, which has not been previously published elsewhere. Keywords: Kenaf fiber, nano aluminium oxide, nano graphene, Vaccum-bagging, mechanical properties.
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