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Abstract <p>Natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites are increasingly valued for their sustainability and mechanical efficiency. This study presents a comparative investigation of epoxy-based composites reinforced with ten natural fibres, including hemp, sisal, pineapple, banana, coconut coir, palm, banyan, flax, jute, and paddy straw, all fabricated using the hand layup technique. Comprehensive mechanical characterization was performed through tensile, flexural, and compressive tests following ASTM standards. Flax composites exhibited the highest tensile (3 kN) and compressive strength (4.32 kN), while jute showed superior flexural load capacity (3.63 kN). Moisture absorption studies revealed that coconut coir absorbed the most water (7.1%) and jute the least (2.0%), indicating a strong hydrophobic profile. XRD and FTIR analyses confirmed structural integrity and functional groups, while FESEM imaging revealed microstructural features such as fibre pull-out, resin cracks, and bonding irregularities. The novelty of this work lies in its systematic evaluation of ten distinct fibres under identical conditions, coupled with an analysis of aged versus fresh epoxy matrices, an aspect occasionally addressed in previous studies. This research provides critical guidance for selecting natural fibres in structural composites requiring both mechanical strength and moisture resistance.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

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Mechanical, moisture absorption, and morphological analysis of epoxy composites reinforced with natural fibres

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月26日

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  • B Deeban,
  • Kosireddi Komali ,
  • E Illango,
  • A Sarathi

摘要

Abstract

Natural fibre-reinforced polymer composites are increasingly valued for their sustainability and mechanical efficiency. This study presents a comparative investigation of epoxy-based composites reinforced with ten natural fibres, including hemp, sisal, pineapple, banana, coconut coir, palm, banyan, flax, jute, and paddy straw, all fabricated using the hand layup technique. Comprehensive mechanical characterization was performed through tensile, flexural, and compressive tests following ASTM standards. Flax composites exhibited the highest tensile (3 kN) and compressive strength (4.32 kN), while jute showed superior flexural load capacity (3.63 kN). Moisture absorption studies revealed that coconut coir absorbed the most water (7.1%) and jute the least (2.0%), indicating a strong hydrophobic profile. XRD and FTIR analyses confirmed structural integrity and functional groups, while FESEM imaging revealed microstructural features such as fibre pull-out, resin cracks, and bonding irregularities. The novelty of this work lies in its systematic evaluation of ten distinct fibres under identical conditions, coupled with an analysis of aged versus fresh epoxy matrices, an aspect occasionally addressed in previous studies. This research provides critical guidance for selecting natural fibres in structural composites requiring both mechanical strength and moisture resistance.

Graphical abstract