Mechanical and thermal characterization of bagasse fiber/coconut shell particle hybrid biocomposites reinforced with cardanol resin

The primary aim of this study is to develop a biocomposite by using biopolymer and natural fibers/particles from renewable resources. With the aid of poly-condensation process, the cardanol thermoset biopolymer resin from cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) was synthesized. The abundantly available, bagasse fiber (20 mm of length) and coconut shell particle (50 mu m) were applied as reinforcement material to produce a new ecological hybrid biocomposite. The prepared fiber and particles are treated chemically. Hybrid composites of Cardanol (C) reinforced with bagasse fiber (BF), Coconut shell powder (CP) and Bagasse fiber/Coconut shell powder (BC) were manufactured using a compression moulding process. This four different kinds of composites, though the sequences are done to have C, C/BF, C/CP, and C/BC. The mechanical properties of the prepared biocomposites were evaluated through tensile, flexural and impact test. These evaluation predicts that C/BF possess comparatively more strength with other hybrid composites. The presence of fiber and particle are attributed in all the biocomposites using FT-IR spectroscopy analysis. Similarly during thermal analysis, C/BF corroborate with higher thermal stability than other biocomposites by thermal gravimetric analysis. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier B.V.