Physical and thermal behaviour of areca and coconut shell powder reinforced epoxy composites

Abstract

An understanding of the temperature dependent properties such as thermal conductivity, specific heat, and thermal diffusivity of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites are an important to determining their heat conduction/insulation capability. In the present study, epoxy based hybrid composites were fabricated by reinforcing the areca and coconut shell powder (CSP) to improve the thermal insulation. The two reinforcements were added together with different weight ratios as 1:1, 1:3, and 3:1 and the total fiber loading of 10–40 wt%. The effect of weight ratio and fiber loading on the density, water absorption, thermal conductivity, specific heat, and thermal diffusivity properties of areca-CSP reinforced epoxy composites was examined. The results revealed that the density, thermal conductivity, and specific heat of hybrid composites were decreased with increase in fiber loading. On other hand, it was observed that the water absorption of hybrid composite was increases with the fiber loading.