Optimizing the synergestic potentials of glassfiber and chicken feather fiber in epoxy based hybrid composites for structural and environmentally adaptable applications

This study investigates the development of lightweight, hybrid reinforced epoxy composites using chicken feather fiber (CFF) and glass fiber (GF) as reinforcements for automotive applications. The composites were fabricated by combining treated chicken feather fibers and glass fibers in a 1:1 wt ratio within an epoxy matrix. The mechanical, thermal, and abrasion properties of the composites were assessed through tensile, flexural, hardness, impact, and wear tests, alongside thermal conductivity measurements. The results revealed that the tensile strength (62.49 MPa) and modulus (801.28 MPa) peaked at 12 wt% reinforcement, with increases of 54% and 36%, respectively, compared to the unreinforced epoxy. The composite with 9 wt% hybrid reinforcement exhibited the highest flexural strength (119.37 MPa), while the 12 wt% hybrid composites showed the best impact resistance (27.9 J/mm 2 ). The wear resistance showed that all the reinforced composites had improved wear resistance, with 18 wt% having the highest wear resistance of 0.12 mg. Additionally, the reinforced composites demonstrated lower thermal conductivity with increasing fiber content as compared with the unreinforced composite, with 12 wt% reinforcement having the lowest thermal conductivity value of 0.000018 W/mK. SEM analysis revealed a strong interfacial bonding between the fibers and the matrix, contributing to the composites’ improved mechanical and thermal properties. The successful hybridization of chicken feathers and glass fibers offers a promising sustainable approach for structural and environmental applications such as automotive components, providing lightweight materials with improved performance, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits over traditional materials.