Implications on heat treatment of natural fiber-reinforced hybrid composites for eco-conscious building materials

Fiber reinforcement in polymer composites is a promising approach for enhancing material strength and modulus. This technique can potentially replace synthetic fibers, which are often costly to produce. In this experimental study, rice straw composites and a hybrid of 35 wt% banana and glass fibers, as well as rice straw/glass hybrid composites, exhibited significantly higher tensile and flexural strengths. Specifically, the tensile strengths recorded were 428 MPa for the rice straw composite and 348 MPa for the banana/glass composite. For flexural strength, the values were 520.56 MPa for the rice straw composite and 367.67 MPa for the banana/glass composite. Here in this study, heat treatment was found to further enhance the mechanical properties of these composites. After heat treatment, the tensile strength of the banana/glass composite increased to 510 MPa, while the rice straw/glass hybrid composite reached a tensile strength of 403.88 MPa. These results underscore the potential of natural fiber-based composites, particularly after optimization through heat treatment, as viable alternatives to synthetic fibers. Flexural strengths are 550.59 MPa and 427.89 MPa, correspondingly. However, the strength of both hybrid composites diminishes when complying with the water absorption experiment. The strength starts to decrease over 35 wt% of fiber loading. Banana and rice straw fibers have emerged as sustainable materials in construction, finding applications in walls, panels, and roofs, as well as in erosion control systems. Their eco-friendly nature makes them ideal for green building solutions. Notably, the superior strength of heat-treated 35 wt% banana/glass fiber hybrid composites, compared to rice straw/glass combinations, underscores their potential as advanced materials for construction. These innovative composites offer enhanced durability and performance, paving the way for a new era in sustainable and resilient building technologies.