Effect of bio-filler on various properties of glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites

Every year almost 130 kg billion of animal bone are produced all over the world. Most of these bones are treated as slaughterhouse waste and directly exposed to landfills and open environments which causes environmental degradation. This study aims to find out mechanical properties (Tensile, Flexural, and Impact) by varying the bio-filler of epoxy-based composites reinforced by glass fiber. Cow bone (CB) powder is used as a bio filler in this research. The major findings of this study are how cow bone powder effects the mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites and which amount cow bone powder filler shows good result. From this work, it is observed that the mechanical properties of fabricated composites are improved by adding certain cow bone powder as a filler. It is seen from the result that mechanical properties including tensile and impact properties are improved by adding cow bone powder initially except for flexural strength. After a certain amount of CB percentage, properties begin to fall. The probable reasons for the decrease in mechanical properties are agglomeration, improper particle distribution, and an increase in void percentage as an excess amount of filler absorbs most of the resin than the fiber. The best result was obtained for a 0.5 % CB filled sample. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation at break, and toughness were increased by 31.15 %, 19.32 %, 4.24 %, and 16.68 % than the base sample. Incorporation of cow bone powder increased flexural properties including energy absorption, and stiffness. 0.5 % CB filled sample showed the best result among the five samples in these two properties. In case of flexural strength, incorporation of cow bone powder filler had an adverse effect and flexural strength was gradually decreased by increasing the cow bone powder amount. Maximum flexural strength is shown by base sample and there is a decrease of 5.56 % of flexural strength by 0.5 % CB filled sample. By incorporation of certain amount of cow bone powder, impact strength is increased. The impact strength trend is similar to the tensile strength trend. Sample of 0.5 % CB filled showed maximum impact strength and it is 7.84 % greater than the base.