Effect of nanosilica on mechanical, thermal, fatigue, and antimicrobial properties of cardanol oil/sisal fiber reinforced epoxy composite

Sisal fiber reinforced nanosilica and cardanol oil toughened epoxy composites were prepared and characterized in this present work. The main aim of this study was to understand the importance of adding cardanol oil and nanosilica to sisal-reinforced epoxy composites in enhancing the load bearing, thermal stability, and antimicrobial properties. The composites were fabricated by the hand layup process and specimens were cut using a water jet machine. The composites were tested using the respective ASTM standards. The results found that the blending of cardanol oil makes the epoxy less brittle and the composites are environment friendly. Similarly, nanosilica with sisal fiber in cardanol oil blended epoxy composites showed improved mechanical properties. The highest tensile strength and modulus were found to be 56% and 64% than pure epoxy resin. The maximum impact resistances and hardness values observed for the composites are 6.48 J and 91 shore-D. Moreover, improved fatigue life counts were observed for composite designation ECN2, which contains 1.0 vol% of nanosilica, but also a decrement in it if the volume percentage was increased to 2.0. The antimicrobial properties improved with the increment of nanosilica and cardanol oil content. These eco-friendly, mechanically toughened biocomposites could be used in drug and food storage, automotives, drones, structural, and sports goods as well as in household appliances manufacturing.

Automated summary

In this study, sisal fiber reinforced nanosilica and cardanol oil toughened epoxy composites were prepared and characterized. The addition of cardanol oil and nanosilica was found to enhance the load bearing, thermal stability, and antimicrobial properties of sisal-reinforced epoxy composites. The composites showed improved mechanical properties, such as increased tensile strength and modulus, as well as improved impact resistance and hardness values. The antimicrobial properties also improved with the increase in nanosilica and cardanol oil content. These environmentally friendly biocomposites could find applications in various industries including drug and food storage, automotive, structural, and sports goods manufacturing.