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<p>Growing emphasis on sustainable development, greener economy, and circular economy concepts has accelerated innovation in material science, particularly toward reducing the dependency on petrochemical-based compounds. Consequently, extensive research has been directed toward the development of eco-friendly biocomposites. The present study investigates the fabrication and characterization of vinyl ester composites reinforced with silane-treated coconut husk micro-fibres and surface-modified biosilica particles derived from lemon peel. The novelty of this research lies in the synergistic reinforcement effect achieved by combining natural fibre and biosilica filler, both chemically modified to enhance interfacial adhesion. The composites were fabricated using the stir-casting technique and evaluated for mechanical, wear, thermal conductivity, and water contact angle behaviour in accordance with ASTM standards.Among the fabricated specimens, the composite VCB2 (40 vol.% fibre and 3 vol.% biosilica) exhibited the highest mechanical performance, with tensile, flexural, compressive, and impact strengths of 94&#xa0;MPa, 141&#xa0;MPa, 108&#xa0;MPa, and 4.28&#xa0;J, respectively. Increasing the biosilica content to 5 vol.% (VCB3) resulted in slightly reduced tensile and impact strength but improved hardness (83 Shore-D), wear resistance (specific wear rate 0.009 mm3/Nm), lower coefficient of friction (0.18), and enhanced thermal conductivity (0.304 W/m·K). The contact angle measurement of 72° for VCB3 indicated improved surface wettability compared to the neat resin, suggesting moderate hydrophilicity due to the presence of hydroxyl and silanol groups. However, the silane treatment stabilized the fibre and filler interface, preventing excessive moisture absorption and enabling the composite to retain adequate hydrophobic resistance over time. Owing to its high strength-to-weight ratio, improved wear and thermal properties, low density, and eco-friendly nature, the developed biocomposite demonstrates strong potential for applications in automotive interior components, aerospace panel laminates, air-conditioning casings, and civil or marine structural applications.</p>

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Valorisation of Citric Fruit Peel Ceramic Biosilica and Coconut Husk Fibre for the Development of Biocomposites for Safe Environmental Application: Fabrication and Characterization

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月28日

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  • S. Vinodha,
  • G. Yuvaraj,
  • V. Selvam,
  • E. Balaji

摘要

Growing emphasis on sustainable development, greener economy, and circular economy concepts has accelerated innovation in material science, particularly toward reducing the dependency on petrochemical-based compounds. Consequently, extensive research has been directed toward the development of eco-friendly biocomposites. The present study investigates the fabrication and characterization of vinyl ester composites reinforced with silane-treated coconut husk micro-fibres and surface-modified biosilica particles derived from lemon peel. The novelty of this research lies in the synergistic reinforcement effect achieved by combining natural fibre and biosilica filler, both chemically modified to enhance interfacial adhesion. The composites were fabricated using the stir-casting technique and evaluated for mechanical, wear, thermal conductivity, and water contact angle behaviour in accordance with ASTM standards.Among the fabricated specimens, the composite VCB2 (40 vol.% fibre and 3 vol.% biosilica) exhibited the highest mechanical performance, with tensile, flexural, compressive, and impact strengths of 94 MPa, 141 MPa, 108 MPa, and 4.28 J, respectively. Increasing the biosilica content to 5 vol.% (VCB3) resulted in slightly reduced tensile and impact strength but improved hardness (83 Shore-D), wear resistance (specific wear rate 0.009 mm3/Nm), lower coefficient of friction (0.18), and enhanced thermal conductivity (0.304 W/m·K). The contact angle measurement of 72° for VCB3 indicated improved surface wettability compared to the neat resin, suggesting moderate hydrophilicity due to the presence of hydroxyl and silanol groups. However, the silane treatment stabilized the fibre and filler interface, preventing excessive moisture absorption and enabling the composite to retain adequate hydrophobic resistance over time. Owing to its high strength-to-weight ratio, improved wear and thermal properties, low density, and eco-friendly nature, the developed biocomposite demonstrates strong potential for applications in automotive interior components, aerospace panel laminates, air-conditioning casings, and civil or marine structural applications.