Thermal Studies on Nanocellulose and Banana Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite

This study deals with the thermal characterization of banana fiber (BF) reinforced in an epoxy matrix, added with a fixed quantity of nanocellulose (NC) (5 wt.%) derived from rice husk by acid pyrolysis. The untreated BFs are added in 3, 6, and 9 wt.% in LY556 grade epoxy mixed with NC using an ultrasonicator and the hand-layup technique for producing the composites. The optical microscope shows the near-homogeneous distribution of BFs. The fabricated nanopolymer composites (NPCs) were characterized as per the ASTM standards. Acid pyrolysis lowers the thermal stability of NCs; BFs are good insulators that reduce the thermal conductivity of the NPCs. A reduction in conductivity by 10.25% is achieved for 9%BF addition as compared with 6%BF addition. The thermal expansion coefficient, limiting oxygen index, and melt flow index are lower for 9%BF nanocomposite by -9.80, -5.77, and -20.59%, whereas heat deflection temperature is increased by 3.81% as compared with 6%BF nanocomposite.