Comparative evaluation of areca/carbon/basalt fiber reinforced epoxy/bio epoxy based hybrid composites

Abstract

The use of renewable resources to reduce environmental effects can provide a long-term platform. The natural fiber is an excellent renewable resource for developing lightweight composite materials. The present work is the development of hybrid areca/carbon/basalt reinforced epoxy/bio epoxy composites and the investigation of their mechanical, thermal, and water absorption behavior. Four layered areca–carbon, areca–basalt, and areca fiber reinforced epoxy/bio epoxy composites were fabricated with three different varying stacking sequences with epoxy and bio epoxy composites with a hand layup method. The Mechanical properties like tensile, flexural, and impact behavior were evaluated and compared between the synthetic and bio epoxy resin. Also, the thermal, water absorption, and morphological studies of all composites were studied, and results showed that out of all the composites the carbon—areca fiber reinforced composites showed better mechanical properties and SEM analysis exemplified the better bonding between areca, carbon, and basalt fabrics. The prepared laminates can be used for developing some commercial medium-load structural applications. © 2022 Society of Plastics Engineers.