Fabrication and characterization of neem oil toughened areca fibre reinforced epoxy resin composite

Abstract

In this research study an epoxy bio composite was made using newlineareca fibre (betel palm fibre), nano-silica, and toughened with neem oil bio newlineblender (anti-microbial content). The main goal of this study was to show newlinehow important it is to incorporate the cost effective, mechanically stronger newlineand thermally stable nano-silica particle and antimicrobial content enriched newlineneem oil into the epoxy resin based bio-composite. For enhanced dispersion newlineover a neem-epoxy blended matrix media, the nano-silica particle and areca newlinefibre were surface-treated with an amino silane 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane newline(APTES). Hand layup was used to create the composites, which were then newlinepost-cured in a hot air oven at 120°C. The composites were tested based on newlineASTM guidelines and the average values were computed by testing at least 5 newlinesimilar samples. According to the results the energy storage behaviour of the newlineepoxy composites was improved by the addition of neem oil. Adding soft newlinemolecules of neem oil to the resin, on the other hand, lowered the tensile, newlineflexural and hardness properties. Even after that, the mechanical properties newlinewere enhanced by adding areca fibre and nanosilica particles. newlineThe results of differential scanning calorimetry revealed that newlinecomposites containing 2vol. % of nano-silica particles maintain the glass newlinetransition (Tg) value of composite even after the neem oil was blended up to newline20 vol. %. The addition of 2 vol. % nano-silica to the neem-epoxy composite newlineimproved its antibacterial properties. Electrical insulation tests found that newlinecomposites made with non-polar neem oil and partially polar nano-silica did newlinenot significantly modify electrical resistance. After adding neem oil, areca newlinefibre, and nanosilica particle to epoxy composites, the energy absorption rates newlineof low velocity drop load impact toughness increased. newline