Influence of cellulosic and non-cellulosic particle fillers on mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and thermogravimetric properties of waste cotton fibre reinforced green composites

Abstract

The textile waste fibre reinforced composites are sustainable in terms of their environmental and economic benefits. However, these composites have not attracted the attention of composite manufacturers. This research report waste cotton composites loaded with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanoparticles and enzyme-treated hemp fibre (HF) microparticles as a filler to improve their mechanical properties. The cotton/epoxy composite loaded with 0.3 wt% of rGO shows a ~11% increment in tensile strength, ~20% increment in flexural strength, and ~30% increment in impact strength. The cotton/epoxy composite loaded with 3 wt% of HF particles show enhancement in tensile, flexural, and impact strength by ~20%, ~14%, and ~116%, respectively. All the composites are thermally stable enough. The developed composites are potential materials for interior furniture of trains and buses.