Mechanical Characterization of Glass-Epoxy Hybrid Composites Reinforced with SiC Derived from Bamboo Leaves

Abstract

This article depicts the processing and mechanical characterization of a new class of multi-phase hybrid composites consisting of epoxy resin reinforced with glass fiber and filled with silicon carbide (SiC) particulates. The SiC used as filler material in this work has been prepared from bamboo leaves through plasma-processing technique. The effect of filler in modifying the physical and mechanical properties of glass-epoxy composites has been studied. It is found that the incorporation of bamboo leaf derived SiC modifies the tensile and flexural strengths of the composites. The micro-hardness and density of the composites are also greatly influenced by the presence of these fillers. By incorporating these particulate fillers, synergistic effects, as expected are achieved in the form of modified mechanical properties. Inclusion of glass fibers in neat epoxy improved the load-bearing capacity (tensile strength) and the ability to withstand bending (flexural strength) of the composites. But with the incorporation of SiC fillers, the tensile strengths of the composites are found to be less although there is reasonable improvement in the bulk hardness.