Calotropis gigantea bast fiber based epoxy composites for automotive application: An experimental study

Abstract

This research focuses on developing a new material by reinforcing chemically treated Calotropis gigantea bast fibers (CG) with epoxy resin as matrix. Composites using varying wt% of treated CG fibers were fabricated taking epoxy as matrix. The effect of chemical treatment and fiber loading on various mechanical properties, thermal, water absorption properties, and morphology using scanning electron microscope (SEM) were investigated. An increasing trend in the values of mechanical properties was observed till optimum fiber loading and then declines. The optimum properties were found at 20 wt% of fiber loading. At this fiber loading the composites were characterized by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric (TGA) and compared with untreated fiber reinforced composites and neat epoxy. When comparing untreated and treated composites, it was discovered that composites containing 20% treated CG fibers produce better outcomes. The findings provide manufacturers and engineers with a general concept of how to employ the composites to make low-weight automotive parts for improved fuel efficiency.

Unveiling new frontiers: Bast fiber‐reinforced polymer composites and their mechanical properties

“…They provided more satisfactory mechanical properties with that, and lower density provided significant support for technical applications. Sahu et al 208 fabricated a matrix with Calotropis gigantea bast fibers (CG) that were chemically treated and incorporated with epoxy resin. Their investigation provided some weighted concepts to develop lightweight components in automotive applications and ensured fuel efficiency in the actual field.…”

Experimental investigation of physical, mechanical, and thermal behaviour of Bi-directional date palm fiber reinforced epoxy composite

“…These natural fiber-reinforced composites were used for various other industries, such as furniture, sports, packaging, and construction [11][12][13][14]. Along with the traditional fibres many recent studies have been done on of various other categories of natural fibers, such as seed [15,16], bast [17] and leaf as reinforcement in epoxy composites.…”

Hybrid calotropis gigantea fibre-reinforced epoxy composites with SiO2’s longer-term moisture absorbable and its impacts on mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties

“…Hydroxyl groups in cellulose interact with water molecules, forming hydrogen bonds. As CGF are hydrophilic, they are incompatible with hydrophobic polymers [18]. Even after treatment with both chemical and physical methods, such as an alkaline peroxide solution and silane pretreatment, these inherent incompatibilities persist in natural fiber-reinforced polymer (NFRP) materials.…”