Effectiveness of silica addition on the mechanical properties of jute/polyester based natural composite

Abstract

The primary focus of this investigation is to determine how effective micro silica powder is in improving the mechanical characteristics of hybrid composites reinforced by woven jute fiber. Fiber Reinforced Composites have become more popular in recent years because of their excellent strength-to-weight ratio. To meet the aims, the composites were manufactured through a manual lay-up approach. In this study, woven jute fibre is used as a reinforcing material, polyester resin is used as a matrix, and nano silica powder is used as a filler material in this study. Several composite samples (0, 5, 10, and 15 wt%) were created by varying the weight ratios of reinforcement (10 wt%), matrix (75, 80, 85, and 90 wt%), and filler materials. Tensile, flexural, and impact testing were carried out in line with ASTM standards. The morphological behavior of hybrid composites was studied using SEM. As the 10-wt% of silica powder in FRP composites rose, the mechanical characteristics improved.