In this research article, the mechanical analysis and microstructure investigation of chicken feather fiber with carbon residuum (CR) (obtained from crumb rubber) fused with epoxy resin hybrid composite has been done. The fibers surface was alkali treated with caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) to improve the interfacial bonding with matrix and reinforcement. Herein, the composites were fabricated using the hand lay‐up technique. Chicken feathers in form of reinforcing fibers were taken in various weight percentages of 1, 3, 5, and 7. Various mechanical tests were performed in accordance with the ASTM standards, and it was perceived that the 5 weight percentage of chicken feathers recorded the optimum impact test results. Finally, the hybrid composites were fabricated with this weight percentage of feathers and varying weight percentages (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5) of CR. Mechanical testing was then conducted on these hybrid composites and determined that the tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength showed a substantial enhancement. The justification of this enhancement was provided through the microstructural tests that includes the scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction analysis. Best results were forecasted for 5 wt% chicken feather and 1 wt% of CR hybrid composites amongst various combinations tried. Thus, noteworthy improvement in case of hybrid composite was seen as compared with neat epoxy. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:2690–2699, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers

In this experimental investigation, the authors have analyzed the physical and thermal behavior of a chicken feather fiber (CFF) and crumb rubber (CR)-filled epoxy hybrid composite. Chicken feathers were treated with sodium hydroxide to improve their interfacial bonding and were taken in different weight percentages of 1, 3, 5, and 7. A fabricated composite with epoxy resin as the host polymer matrix was prepared using the hand layup technique. These composites with 5 wt. % of CFF and varying weight percentages of CR, e.g., 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5, were analyzed. Results showed that for the hybrid composition, the density and percentage of water absorption increased. Thermal analysis predicted the stability of the hybrid composite, and it was concluded that a composite with 1 wt. % of CR and 5 wt. % of CFF showed the optimum results amongst all other combinations. Moreover, the properties showed significant improvement in the case of the hybrid composite as compared to the pure fiber–based composite.

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We have studied the role of Dy3+ doping on the XRD, TEM, FTIR, and dielectric and electrical properties of CoFe2O4 at room temperature. Cubic spinel phase of CoFe2−xDyxO4 (x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15) was synthesized by using different sintering temperatures (300, 500, 700, and 900°C). The two absorption bands ν1 and ν2 are observed in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra corresponding to the tetrahedral and octahedral sites, which show signature of spinel structure of the sample. For the sample sintered at 300°C, the dielectric constant is almost unchanged with the frequency at the particular concentrations of x = 0.00 and 0.05. Similar result is obtained for the sample sintered at 500°C (x = 0.10, 0.15), 700°C (x = 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15), and 900°C (x = 0.05, 0.10). An increase in the dielectric constant was observed for the undoped cobalt ferrite sintered at 500, 700, and 900°C. The values of electrical resistivity of the materials vary from ~105 to 109 Ω-cm.

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