Effects of thermal aging and functionalized epoxy matrix with graphene nanoplates in fique fabric-reinforced composites

Currently, the demand for high quality and reliable components and materials is increasing, so bending testing has become a vital test method, both in research and manufacturing and development process, to explain in detail about the material’s ability to withstand deformation under load. This research investigated flexural properties of polymeric composites reinforced with natural fiber, in particular the fique fabric, with addition of graphene nanoplates (GNP) (0.1%; 0.5% and 0.9%) and degradation at high temperature (0, 5 and 10 days), as it was never reported. Using design of experiments (DoE), ie, 3-full factorial design with two replications, aiming to analyze the effects of important parameters, which are exposure time and GNP addition percentage. The output response measurement was identified as deflection at fracture, modulus of rupture and elasticity values. Randomized experiments were conducted based on table generated via Minitab 19 software. Scanning electron microscopy analysis confirmed the main influences on flexural analysis responses.