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<p>This study focused on the development and characterization of novel hybrid epoxy composites reinforced with alkali-treated <i>Hibiscus sabdariffa</i> and sugarcane bagasse fibers, incorporating cocoa pod husk (CPH) as a microfiller. This study introduces an innovative approach by utilizing cocoa pod husk, a largely underutilized and readily available agricultural by-product, as a reinforcement material to develop environmentally sustainable composites with improved mechanical properties. Composites were fabricated using compression molding, and their mechanical, acoustic, water absorption, and microstructural properties were evaluated. Tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness tests revealed significant enhancements in the composite performance with increasing CPH content up to 7.5 wt. %, attributed to improved matrix densification, effective stress transfer, and enhanced fiber–matrix interfacial bonding due to alkali treatment. The acoustic damping capability, quantified by the noise reduction coefficient (NRC), was found to be strongly correlated with the composite porosity, reaching a maximum at 7.5 wt. % CPH. This was ascribed to the formation of a tortuous interconnected pore network, which facilitated sound energy dissipation. Water absorption tests demonstrated a substantial reduction in moisture uptake with increasing filler content, with 7.5 wt. % of CPH filler content exhibited the lowest water absorption percentage. Microstructural analysis using SEM revealed a well-distributed fiber–matrix system with uniform filler dispersion at the optimal loading, whereas a higher filler content (10 wt. %) led to agglomeration, void formation, and matrix discontinuity. The synergistic effect of hybridization, alkali treatment, and controlled filler incorporation resulted in a multifunctional biocomposite with enhanced mechanical, acoustic, and moisture resistance properties. These findings highlight the potential of sustainable hybrid composites containing <i>Hibiscus sabdariffa</i>, sugarcane bagasse, and CPH for various applications, including structural components, noise reduction, and moisture-sensitive environments.</p>

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Multifunctional Green Composites: Investigating the Role of Cocoa Pod Husk Filler in Hibiscus sabdariffa and Sugarcane Bagasse-Reinforced Epoxy Systems

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月13日

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  • Murugesan Palaniappan,
  • Sivasubramanian Palanisamy,
  • Arulkumar Periyakaruppathevar Veerathevar,
  • Thulasimani Murugesan

摘要

This study focused on the development and characterization of novel hybrid epoxy composites reinforced with alkali-treated Hibiscus sabdariffa and sugarcane bagasse fibers, incorporating cocoa pod husk (CPH) as a microfiller. This study introduces an innovative approach by utilizing cocoa pod husk, a largely underutilized and readily available agricultural by-product, as a reinforcement material to develop environmentally sustainable composites with improved mechanical properties. Composites were fabricated using compression molding, and their mechanical, acoustic, water absorption, and microstructural properties were evaluated. Tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness tests revealed significant enhancements in the composite performance with increasing CPH content up to 7.5 wt. %, attributed to improved matrix densification, effective stress transfer, and enhanced fiber–matrix interfacial bonding due to alkali treatment. The acoustic damping capability, quantified by the noise reduction coefficient (NRC), was found to be strongly correlated with the composite porosity, reaching a maximum at 7.5 wt. % CPH. This was ascribed to the formation of a tortuous interconnected pore network, which facilitated sound energy dissipation. Water absorption tests demonstrated a substantial reduction in moisture uptake with increasing filler content, with 7.5 wt. % of CPH filler content exhibited the lowest water absorption percentage. Microstructural analysis using SEM revealed a well-distributed fiber–matrix system with uniform filler dispersion at the optimal loading, whereas a higher filler content (10 wt. %) led to agglomeration, void formation, and matrix discontinuity. The synergistic effect of hybridization, alkali treatment, and controlled filler incorporation resulted in a multifunctional biocomposite with enhanced mechanical, acoustic, and moisture resistance properties. These findings highlight the potential of sustainable hybrid composites containing Hibiscus sabdariffa, sugarcane bagasse, and CPH for various applications, including structural components, noise reduction, and moisture-sensitive environments.