The present research focuses on developing a new class of hybrid composites with woven ramie fiber mats reinforced in epoxy resin filled with different proportions of sponge iron (SI) slag. These multi-layered composites are fabricated using conventional hand layup method. The cured composite samples are subjected to various physical, mechanical and micro-structural characterization tests. Properties such as composite density, void content, tensile strength, flexural strength, impact and inter-laminar shear strength, micro-hardness, and so forth, are evaluated under controlled laboratory conditions. The compositional/micro-structural features are identified with the help of scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), stereomicroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and so forth. Scanning electron microscopy reveals the shape, size and distribution pattern of the filler particles in the composites. The FTIR study is done to identify the functional groups present in the filler, fiber and in the resulting composite to get an insight to the chemistry of composite formation. Similarly, X-Ray diffraction curve reveals the presence of hard phases such as silica, magnesioferrite, graphite, hematite, and so forth. This work suggests that successful fabrication of natural fiber composites is possible with additional reinforcement of an industrial waste like sponge iron slag and that most of the mechanical properties improve with increase in the content of SI slag in the composite.characterization, hybrid composite, ramie fiber, sponge iron slag | INTRODUCTIONPolymer composites are finding wider applications in various industrial, structural, and bio-medical fields in comparison to monolithic alloys as they are cheaper, have improved strength and wear resistance. In such composites, usually synthetic fibers are used as the reinforcing materials for their high tensile strength, stiffness and lightweight. But in recent years, natural fibers are fast emerging as replacement of synthetics and have drawn the attention of researchers worldwide due to several advantages like low cost, easy availability, biodegradability, fairly good strength, and low impact on the environment. Natural fibers have the ability to replace synthetic

This investigation aims to develop and characterize a class of multi‐phase hybrid composites consisting of bi‐directional ramie fibers, epoxy resin and micro‐sized titania (TiO2) particles in different proportions. Conventional hand layup technique is followed for fabrication of these composite slabs with fixed fiber fraction but different filler loadings of 0, 10, 20, and 30 wt%. The composites are subjected to different physical, compositional, and mechanical characterization tests under controlled laboratory conditions. The microstructural features of the composites are studied using scanning electron microscopy and stereo‐microscopy. For the compositional analysis, Fourier transform‐infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) technique are adopted. The functional groups present in the constituent materials are identified and so also the different phases in the composites. The different characterization tests reveal that with the incorporation of hard titania particles, the tensile, flexural, inter‐laminar shear strength, hardness, and impact strength improve. Similarly, the density and moisture absorption behavior are also found to be greatly affected by the inclusion of fillers. Armed with reasonably good mechanical properties and improved hardness, these epoxy‐ramie composites filled with titania micro‐particles may possibly find applications as functional materials in potential areas like wear prone situations.Highlights Hybridization of ramie‐epoxy composite by additional reinforcement of TiO2. Physical properties of the composites are affected by the inclusion of fillers. Mechanical properties of composites improved with filler content. The developed composites can be used for wear resistant applications.

This paper aims on evaluating the erosion wear behavior of epoxy composites reinforced with ramie fibers. The possibility of reinforcing ramie fiber to improvise the wear resistance of epoxy is investigated in this study. Composites are fabricated by reinforcing multiple layers of woven ramie fiber mats into epoxy resin using conventional wet lay‐up technique and erosion wear trials are conducted using solid particle erosion test setup. Taguchi analysis is done to assess the relative significance of each of the factors influencing the erosion rate using L16 orthogonal array. The analysis reveals that the impact velocity followed by impingement angle are the most significant control factors affecting the erosion wear rate of ramie‐epoxy composites. Steady state erosion analysis is done to ascertain the effect of each of the significant factors while keeping other factors fixed. Further, an analytical and predictive model based on the principle of neural computation is used to predict the rate of erosion wear of the composites and the obtained results are compared with the experimental outcomes. The worn morphologies of the eroded surfaces of the composites are studied and analyzed to identify possible mechanisms causing wear.