Thermo-Mechanical and Wear Behaviour of Surface-Treated Pineapple Woven Fibre and Nano-Silica Dispersed Mahua Oil Toughened Epoxy Composite

In this present investigation effect of adding surface treated pineapple and nano-silica into mahua seed oil (Madhuca longifolia) toughened epoxy bio composite material was studied. The prime objective of this present investigation was to produce high toughness commercial epoxy bio composite with natural blender, fibre and filler. The bio blender (mahua) of density 0.9 g/cm with 10 and 15 vol.%, pineapple natural fibre of density 1.4 g/cm with 30 vol.% and nano-silica particle of 20 nm with 0.5 and 1.0 vol.% were used as reinforcements. The pineapple fibre and nano-silica particles were surface treated using APTES (3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane) via aqueous solution method. Composites were made using hand lay-up method and evaluated for mechanical, thermal and wear in accordance with ASTM standards. The mechanical results showed that adding 30 vol.% of surface-treated pineapple fibre with 1.0 vol.% of nano-silica particle in mahua oil of 15 vol.%-epoxy bio blend gives maximum tensile, flexural and impact strength of 160 MPa, 225 MPa and 5.5 J. The TGA (Thermogravimetry analysis) and wear results explicated that adding 1.0 vol.% of nano-silica into mahua (15 vol.%)-epoxy bio blend offers highest stability and wear resistance. The SEM (Scanning electron microscopy) morphological images revealed reacted phase of pineapple fibre and nano-silica with mahua-epoxy blend. The fractograph images show striations on the failure direction, which revealed improved toughness of epoxy resin blend. These mechanically and thermally strengthened bio-composites could be used in structural, automobile and domestic applications.