Influential reinforcement parameters, elemental mapping, topological analysis and mechanical performance of lignocellulosic date palm/epoxy composites for improved sustainable materials

Abstract

The value of biomaterials for green products has begun to develop more ecofriendly and renewable sustainable materials for a better circular economy and to reduce carbon footprints. This work presents integrated investigations of the lignocellulosic date palm/epoxy composites at various reinforcement condition parameters for sustainable structural materials where elemental mapping, topological analysis, and mechanical performance have been performed. Mapping energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy was utilized to assess the composite composition properly. Elemental mapping and a scanning electron microscope were employed to evaluate the chemical composition of the composites. The mechanical performance of the produced composites was also explored in terms of ultimate tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation at break, and impact energy properties. The effects of fiber loading, fiber length, and fiber width (as long fiber, short fiber, and long-thin fiber) were investigated for the date palm fiber/epoxy composites. Results have revealed that the composite behavior was affected by several influential reinforcement parameters. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy maps by C–K, O–K, Si–K, K-K, and Ca-K demonstrated that the composites contain mainly carbon, silicon, and oxygen. It was evident that the modulus of elasticity property of short fiber composites exhibits an increasing trend with higher fiber content, even at 35 wt%. Moreover, the enhancement of tensile strength for the short fiber size composites reached 72.5 %. However, such tensile strength of thin fiber size/epoxy composites achieved 135.7 % at 25 wt% indicating superior development of this mechanical property. The long date palm fiber composites demonstrated the best value of modulus of elasticity and the maximum impact energy of 15.3 kJ/m2 attained at 25 wt%, which is about 112.5 % enhancement. Scan electron microscope was capable of confirming that broken fibers were not separated from the matrix indicating the good adhesion between the fiber and the matrix that supports their good mechanical performance.