Effect of fiber loading on the mechanical, morphological, and dynamic mechanical characteristics of Calamus tenuis fiber reinforced epoxy composites

Abstract

This research delves into incorporating Calamus tenuis fibers as reinforcing material in polymer composites, conducting a thorough analysis of their viscoelastic, mechanical, and morphological attributes. Employing the hand layup method, Calamus tenuis fiber-reinforced epoxy composites were crafted across a range of fiber loadings from 0 to 25 wt% with 5 wt% increments. Results highlight significant enhancements in mechanical attributes upon the incorporation of Calamus tenuis fibers into the matrix. Notably, the composite with 10 wt% Calamus tenuis fibers emerges as the top performer, showcasing unparalleled mechanical strength compared to neat epoxy. It achieves the highest tensile strength (21.08 ± 1.03 MPa) and tensile modulus (2.84 ± 0.09 GPa), along with the utmost flexural strength (63.31 ± 1.05 MPa) and flexural modulus (3.12 ± 0.16 GPa). Furthermore, it demonstrates remarkable impact strength (9.40 ± 0.40 J/cm²), emphasizing its resilience. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirms enhanced fiber-matrix adhesion in the 10 wt% composite. Additionally, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results reveal enhancements in storage and loss modulus, with the 10 wt% composites exhibiting the highest values. However, the damping factor decreases with the inclusion of Calamus tenuis fibers. Overall, a 10 wt% fiber loading is deemed ideal for enhancing the mechanical and dynamic properties of epoxy composites.

Highlights

• Utilized Calamus tenuis fibers as reinforcing materials in epoxy composites.
• Investigated the mechanical, morphological, and viscoelastic properties.
• Calamus tenuis fibers boost epoxy composite mechanical traits significantly.
• SEM confirms improved fiber-matrix adhesion in 10 wt% composite.
• DMA highlights elevated storage and loss modulus in 10 wt% composites.