Mechanical and Thermal Characterization of Natural Composites for Sustainable Applications
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Abstract
This study explores the development and mechanical characterization of sustainable hybrid composites reinforced with rockwool, conch shell powder, and flax fibers within an epoxy matrix. Two distinct composite formulations were fabricated: Rockwool/Conch/Epoxy (C-1) and Rockwool/Flax/Epoxy (C-2), each comprising 30 wt.% reinforcement (15 wt.% rockwool fibers and 15 wt.% conch powder or flax fibers) and 70 wt.% epoxy resin. The composites were produced using the hand lay-up method followed by compression molding. Comprehensive mechanical tests, including tensile and flexural strength assessments, were conducted in accordance with ASTM standards. Additionally, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), water-absorption testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to evaluate thermal stability, moisture affinity, and microstructural characteristics. The results indicated that C-2 exhibited superior tensile and flexural strengths compared to C-1, attributed to the enhanced fiber–matrix bonding facilitated by flax fibers. Conversely, C-1 demonstrated better thermal stability but also higher water uptake, reflecting the porous, hydrophilic nature of conch shell particles. SEM analysis revealed effective dispersion of reinforcements and strong interfacial adhesion in C-2, whereas C-1 showed minor voids around conch particles. These findings highlight the potential of integrating natural and industrial waste materials to develop high-performance, eco-friendly composites with tailored mechanical, thermal, and moisture-management properties suitable for various structural applications.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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