Mechanical, wear, and hydrophobic properties of silane-treated corn husk fibre and betel nut epoxy composites

The goal of this study is to investigate the effects of adding betel nut powdered particles to epoxy composites reinforced with corn husk fibre. The examination of mechanical, wear, and hydrophobic behaviour of the surface-treated betel nut particles and corn husk fibre in epoxy resin is the main objective of the study. Using a silane coupling agent, the surface treatment of fibre and particles was carried out. The American Society for Testing of Materials (ASTM) standard was followed for the characterization and the hand layup technique used to create the composites for various combinations. The following are the findings of this experiment: With the addition of 40 vol. % corn husk fibre and 3.0 vol. % betel nut particles in epoxy, the maximum values of tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, Izod impact, hardness, and compression strength for composite designation ECA2 are observed up to 128 MPa, 4.91 GPa, 168.1 MPa, 6.36 GPa, 4.9 J, and 14.4 MPa, respectively. Comparing to other composite designations, ECA3, which consists of 40 vol. % corn husk fibre and 3.0 vol. % betel nut powdered particles, has the highest wear resistance properties, with wear loss and coefficient of friction (COF) values of 0.06 g and 0.28, correspondingly. However, an increase in betel nut particles of around 5 vol. % results in a deterioration in mechanical and wear characteristics for the composite designation ECA3. But with an increase in betel nut powdered particles up to 5 vol. %, the water absorption exhibits a progressive increase. The composite designation ECA3 has the highest water absorption % recorded, which is about 1.25%. Due to the silane surface treatment, scanning electron microscope (SEM) fractograph of fractured samples revealed enhanced bonding between the fibre and matrix as well as even dispersion of betel nut particles inside the composite. Such mechanically resilient, extremely wear-resistant, and hydrophobic materials could be used in packaging, construction, turbine blade, aerospace, and other engineering products.