Mechanical, thermal and fatigue behaviour of surface-treated novel Caryota urens fibre–reinforced epoxy composite

Epoxy biocomposites were prepared using acid-, base- and silane-treated novel Caryota urens natural fibres (CUFs). The primary aim of this research is to reveal a better surface treatment method to achieve improved mechanical, thermal and fatigue properties of Caryota fibre epoxy composite system. The composites were prepared using hand layup method and post cured at 120 °C for 48 h. The tensile, flexural and impact results show that the silane surface–treated Caryota urens fibre–reinforced epoxy composite possesses improved mechanical properties than the base- and acid-treated Caryota urens fibres in the epoxy composite. Similarly, the inter-laminar shear strength (ILSS) of silane-treated Caryota urens–reinforced epoxy composite gives the highest value of 28 MPa. The TGA shows a large mass loss for both acid- and base-treated Caryota urens epoxy composites whereas the silane-treated Caryota urens in epoxy composite retains the thermal stability. The fatigue behaviour of silane surface–modified Caryota urens epoxy composite shows the highest fatigue life cycle of 18,315 for 25% of maximum tensile stress. The SEM micrographs show improved adhesion for silane-treated CUF than those treated with acid and base. This Caryota urens fibre–reinforced epoxy composite could be used in automobile body parts, domestic appliances, defence products and lightweight mini-aircrafts.