Experimental investigations on Palmyra sprout fiber and biosilica-toughened epoxy bio composite

The Palmyra sprout fibers with red matta rice husk ash (RHA) biosilica-toughened epoxy composites were fabricated and characterized in this research. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of adding newly developed Palmyra sprout fiber and red matta biosilica into the epoxy resin and its significant effect on fatigue, fracture toughness, and dynamic mechanical properties of an epoxy-based composite. The composites were fabricated by hand layup process and characterized by corresponding American society of testing and materials (ASTM) standards. The fatigue test showed that the inclusion of fiber and biosilica particles gives maximum fatigue life counts for composite designation EPS1 of about 33,473; 28,441; and 23,702 for 50%, 70%, and 90% of ultimate stress, respectively. Further increment in biosilica vol. %, a notable decrement in fatigue life count was observed. For fracture toughness, the 1 vol. % of biosilica improves the values up to 39.2 MPa √m; it is 78% of increment than pure epoxy. Similarly, the additions of 40 vol. % of Palmyra sprout fiber increases the storage modulus by about 2.8 GPa and reduces the loss factor up to 0.62. Further addition of biosilica improves both properties. Storage modulus increases up to 5.6 GPa and loss factor decreases up to 0.38 for composite designation EPS3. These composites with improved fatigue life count and increased fracture toughness and DMA properties could be used in the automobile sector, industrial, and household purposes.