Impact of SiO2 Performance on the Composite Reinforced with Bamboo/Kenaf Fibers

The study aimed to evaluate the mechanical characteristics of composite materials that were strengthened with bamboo and kenaf fibers, in addition to the inclusion of silicon dioxide (SiO2) particles. The incorporation of SiO2 into the epoxy matrix, along with bamboo and kenaf fibers, demonstrated promising results in terms of improving its performance. The composites were fabricated utilizing a manual hand layup approach. The fiber content was maintained at a constant level of 25% for one type of fiber and 20% for the other type, while the concentration of SiO2 varied from 0 to 3 wt%. The researchers discovered that some mechanical parameters exhibited substantial enhancement in comparison to epoxy reinforced exclusively with fibers. Nevertheless, when the concentration of SiO2 surpassed 2 wt%, there was a noticeable decrease in mechanical performance. While the addition of SiO2 nanoparticles typically improved mechanical properties, a decrease in metrics such as tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength was found when SiO2 levels reached 3 wt%.