Gamma radiation’s influence on the tensile characteristics of waste animal fiber reinforced biocomposites

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This study involves the preparation of polymer composites using untreated and treated chicken feather, leather, and cow hair fiber in combination with unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) and analyzing the effect of gamma radiation on tensile properties. These fibers were incorporated into the resin matrix at various weight percentages (2%, 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, and 15%). Additionally, the nanoparticle ZnO was added in the composites as filler to improve the mechanical properties. The composites that utilized treated chicken feather fibers yielded superior results in comparison to those that relied on untreated fibers. Prepared composites outperformed neat composites when inorganic components were added as filler to UPR. Composite materials’ mechanical properties, particularly their tensile strength and modulus, can be improved by combining cow hair feather and chicken feather mixed fibers with ZnO filler and gamma radiation modification, according to this study. The morphological and spectroscopic analysis provides supporting evidence for the mechanical strength between the fibers and the resin. Ionizing gamma radiation modification of the fiber resulted in superior tensile characteristics. The optimized composites of animal fibers were then subjected to gamma radiation of variable dose of 0, 2.5, 5 and 7.5 kGy. The tensile properties were found to be the maximum at 5 kGy. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the structural changes caused by the incorporation of animal fibers (chicken feather and cow hair) and ZnO. Composite material and UPR functional group identification were achieved by means of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).