Tribo-mechanical behavior of pectin-filled aloe vera fiber–reinforced polyester composites

Abstract Natural fiber–reinforced composites offer sustainability benefits but face challenges such as high water absorption and limited wear resistance. To address this, pectin was incorporated into aloe vera fiber–reinforced polyester composites, and its effects on mechanical strength, wear resistance, water absorption, and thermal stability were evaluated. Composites were prepared with varying pectin concentrations: AF0 (pectin-free), PA1 (1 % pectin), PA3 (3 % pectin), PA5 (5 % pectin), and PA7 (7 % pectin). Results showed that PA3 exhibited the highest mechanical properties, with a hardness of 81, impact strength of 3.87 J, flexural strength of 60.31 MPa, and tensile strength of 21.87 MPa, while water absorption decreased to 8.12 %. Wear resistance was also highest in PA3, with the lowest wear loss under applied loads of 10 N , 15 N , and 20 N . However, beyond PA3, mechanical properties and wear resistance declined due to matrix embrittlement. Thermal analysis indicated similar degradation trends across compositions, with about 20 % weight loss between 50 °C and 250 °C and 60 % loss between 250 °C and 400 °C, confirming that pectin had minimal impact on thermal stability. These findings suggest that incorporating 3 % pectin (PA3) optimizes composite performance, making it a promising approach for enhancing the durability of natural fiber–reinforced composites.