Mechanical Performance of Bio-Waste-Filled Carbon Fabric/Epoxy Composites

The aim of this study is to incorporate bio-waste fillers that is, micro rice husk powder (RHP) and rice husk ash powder (RHA), into epoxy resins using a three-roll mill and fabricate composites by reinforcing carbon fabrics via vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process and study their mechanical properties. The RHP and RHA fillers were prepared in the size range 2-6 mu m by mechano-ball milling and low-temperature burning and only mechano-ball milling, respectively. The effect of various wt% (0.3, 0.5, and 1) of the fillers was investigated in terms of the mechanical properties based on tensile, bending, and tension-tension fatigue tests. The mechanical results revealed optimum strengths, especially flexural (770 MPa, 0.3% RHP) and fatigue (five times fatigue life, 0.5% RHA) properties, due to the powder increasing the adhesive strength between the fiber and matrix and making crazes for arresting the development of cracks; these were further supported by the micro-observations made using a scanning electron microscope. Overall, this study addresses environmental pollution by utilizing biowaste materials in carbon-reinforced polymer composites with decent properties. (C) 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers