A Study on Mechanical Properties of Silk Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Resin Bio-Composite With SiC As Filler Addition

Abstract

The present work describes an attempt to develop hybrid bio-composite material using raw untreated dupion silk fiber reinforced in epoxy resin as matrix in addition with silicon carbide powder of 220 grit number as filler material with varying percentage of 0%,2%,4% and 6% by weight, the procured raw materials were fabricated using the hand lay-up technique. The different mechanical testing namely tensile, flexure, hardness and S.E.M tests were conducted on the standard samples prepared. In this case, by their application in orthopedic as implantable material in the bone fixation has been considered and studied. In this work it is found that tensile strength of 6% silicon carbide filled with dupion silk fiber reinforced epoxy bio-composite material obtained about 41.4 MPa, flexural strength about 53 Mpa and hardness value about 88 RBHN. Hence in this work Tensile strength and flexural strength of 6% silicon carbide filled natural dupion silk fiber reinforcement epoxy bio-composite material matches the femur bone’s tensile and flexural strength while comparing; hence this material can be suitable for the human body bone replacement subjecting to suitable coating fabrication.