Characterization of Flexural and Impact Strength of Jute/Almond Hybrid Biocomposite

Abstract

A hybrid composite consisting of jute fiber-almond shell particle reinforced in epoxy resin modified with 1 weight percentage (wt.%) depolymerised natural rubber (DNR) was fabricated using hand lay-up technique. In the present investigation, we modified the composite by fabricating a composite by filling it with a mixture of almond shell particle and jute fiber, keeping total reinforcement wt. % fixed to 20 wt. %, but varying the ratio of jute fiber and almond shell particle in the manner almond/jute: 100/0, 75/25, 50/50, 25/75, 0/100. Through testings and experimentations, it was concluded that flexural strength is improved by 26.75 %. Through SEM, how the particles and fiber are dispersed in the matrix, how they are bonded to matrix or each other, how at higher wt. % fibers or particles form clusters and effect bonding, with increase in length, how fiber defect increases and composite failure due to fiber pull out or splitting of fiber increases, was seen and justified our results. Thus, it was concluded that 15 wt. % almond shell particle and 5 wt. % treated jute fiber having fiber length 10 mm filled in epoxy modified with 1 wt. % DNR gave the optimum results from various combinations. As such, properties have significantly improved for hybrid composite as compared to pure fiber/ pure particle based composite.