Fabrication and mechanical characterization of alkali-treated Grewia serrulata and Prosopis juliflora fiber reinforced epoxy bio-composites.
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| Title: | Fabrication and mechanical characterization of alkali-treated Grewia serrulata and Prosopis juliflora fiber reinforced epoxy bio-composites. |
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| Authors: | Nagarajan, A.1 (AUTHOR) nagarajan@astiacademy.ac.ae, Khan, Adam2 (AUTHOR) adam.khan@nmims.edu |
| Source: | Interactions (30050731). 7/21/2026, Vol. 247 Issue 1, p1-20. 20p. |
| Abstract: | This study presents a novel investigation into hybrid bio-composite laminates fabricated from alkali-treated Grewia serrulata and Prosopis juliflora natural fibers embedded in an LY-556 epoxy matrix (hardener HY-951, resin-to-hardener ratio 10:1 by weight). To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported work on a hybrid composite system combining these two under-explored fiber species within a single epoxy matrix. Fiber weight fractions of 10, 20, and 30 wt% (expressed as fiber mass divided by total composite mass, including resin and hardener) were investigated, with both fiber types incorporated in equal proportion (1:1 ratio) across four plies produced via the hand lay-up technique. Both fiber types were subjected to 5 wt% NaOH surface treatment for 3 h, with subsequent neutralization, washing to a final pH of 7, and oven-drying at 60 °C for 24 h to a residual moisture content below 2%. Single-filament tensile characterization yielded a mean maximum force of 23.79 N (CV = 40.75%) for Grewia serrulata and 22.32 N (CV = 35.71%) for Prosopis juliflora, with fiber densities of 1.31 g/cc and 1.28 g/cc respectively. Composite tensile testing (ASTM D3039, straight-sided rectangular coupons with end tabs) demonstrated that the 30 wt% hybrid formulation achieved an ultimate tensile strength of approximately 48 MPa, representing a 35% improvement over the neat epoxy baseline. Wear resistance also improved progressively with fiber content. Alkali treatment effectiveness is inferred from mechanical trends; FTIR, SEM, and XRD verification is recommended. These findings suggest potential for non-structural and semi-structural applications; qualification for structural service requires additional flexural, impact, fatigue, thermal, and moisture-absorption characterization. The alkali treatment markedly enhanced fiber-matrix interfacial adhesion by removing surface wax, reducing hydrophilicity, and increasing surface roughness. Compared with analogous single-fiber jute/epoxy or sisal/epoxy composites that typically achieve tensile strengths of 35–45 MPa at 30 wt%, the present hybrid system reaches approximately 48 MPa, suggesting a measurable synergistic benefit from hybridization (7, 10, 21). The findings confirm that these hybrid bio-composites offer reduced bulk density (approximately 1.18–1.29 g/cc), lower material cost, and competitive tensile performance relative to glass-fiber-reinforced benchmarks at equivalent fiber loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Interactions (30050731) is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 195499893 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Fabrication and mechanical characterization of alkali-treated Grewia serrulata and Prosopis juliflora fiber reinforced epoxy bio-composites. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nagarajan%2C+A%2E%22">Nagarajan, A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> nagarajan@astiacademy.ac.ae</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Khan%2C+Adam%22">Khan, Adam</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> adam.khan@nmims.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Interactions+%2830050731%29%22">Interactions (30050731)</searchLink>. 7/21/2026, Vol. 247 Issue 1, p1-20. 20p. – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This study presents a novel investigation into hybrid bio-composite laminates fabricated from alkali-treated Grewia serrulata and Prosopis juliflora natural fibers embedded in an LY-556 epoxy matrix (hardener HY-951, resin-to-hardener ratio 10:1 by weight). To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported work on a hybrid composite system combining these two under-explored fiber species within a single epoxy matrix. Fiber weight fractions of 10, 20, and 30 wt% (expressed as fiber mass divided by total composite mass, including resin and hardener) were investigated, with both fiber types incorporated in equal proportion (1:1 ratio) across four plies produced via the hand lay-up technique. Both fiber types were subjected to 5 wt% NaOH surface treatment for 3 h, with subsequent neutralization, washing to a final pH of 7, and oven-drying at 60 °C for 24 h to a residual moisture content below 2%. Single-filament tensile characterization yielded a mean maximum force of 23.79 N (CV = 40.75%) for Grewia serrulata and 22.32 N (CV = 35.71%) for Prosopis juliflora, with fiber densities of 1.31 g/cc and 1.28 g/cc respectively. Composite tensile testing (ASTM D3039, straight-sided rectangular coupons with end tabs) demonstrated that the 30 wt% hybrid formulation achieved an ultimate tensile strength of approximately 48 MPa, representing a 35% improvement over the neat epoxy baseline. Wear resistance also improved progressively with fiber content. Alkali treatment effectiveness is inferred from mechanical trends; FTIR, SEM, and XRD verification is recommended. These findings suggest potential for non-structural and semi-structural applications; qualification for structural service requires additional flexural, impact, fatigue, thermal, and moisture-absorption characterization. The alkali treatment markedly enhanced fiber-matrix interfacial adhesion by removing surface wax, reducing hydrophilicity, and increasing surface roughness. Compared with analogous single-fiber jute/epoxy or sisal/epoxy composites that typically achieve tensile strengths of 35–45 MPa at 30 wt%, the present hybrid system reaches approximately 48 MPa, suggesting a measurable synergistic benefit from hybridization (7, 10, 21). The findings confirm that these hybrid bio-composites offer reduced bulk density (approximately 1.18–1.29 g/cc), lower material cost, and competitive tensile performance relative to glass-fiber-reinforced benchmarks at equivalent fiber loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Interactions (30050731) is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1007/s10751-026-02674-9 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 20 StartPage: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Fabrication and mechanical characterization of alkali-treated Grewia serrulata and Prosopis juliflora fiber reinforced epoxy bio-composites. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Nagarajan, A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Khan, Adam IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 21 M: 07 Text: 7/21/2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 30050731 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 247 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Interactions (30050731) Type: main |
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