Fabrication and characterization of silanized echinoidea fillers and kenaf fibre-reinforced Azadirachta-indica blended epoxy multi-hybrid biocomposite

Abstract

In this research, mechanical, thermal, and water uptake behaviour of surface-modified sea urchin spike biofiller and kenaf woven fibre mat-reinforced neem oil blended epoxy resin composite has been studied. The principal aim of this research was fabrication of eco-friendly hybrid composite and explicitness of the importance of surface modification on reinforcements. Neem oil was blended with epoxy resin to reduce extreme brittleness of epoxy, making the composite as an eco-friendly one. Sea urchin biofiller was prepared using high energy ball mill. Both filler and fibre were surface-treated by amino silane. The results revealed that additions of surface-treated sea urchin particle and kenaf fibre increased the mechanical properties of composite. Similarly thermal results exposed that addition of sea urchin bioceramic filler greatly increased the thermal stability of neem-epoxy biocomposite. SEM fractographs showed uniform dispersion of sea urchin filler and improved adhesion of kenaf fibre with epoxy matrix.