Effect of Modified Silicon Carbide Nanofillers on the Mechanical Performance of Nettle Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

ABSTRACT In this study, silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles were surface modified using silane treatment and incorporated into epoxy resin to fabricate nettle fiber reinforced polymer (NFRP) composites. The composites were produced by varying the modified SiC filler content from 1 to 4 wt% within the epoxy matrix, which was used to impregnate 5% NaOH treated nettle fiber reinforcements. Initially, the composites were developed by performing hand layup, followed by the compression molding technique. The mechanical and wear properties of SiC‐filled NFRP (S‐NFRP) composites were comprehensively investigated and compared with plain NFRP (P‐NFRP) composites. FTIR analysis confirmed the effective incorporation of modified SiC nanoparticles, whereas SEM was conducted to examine the fracture surface morphology. The results demonstrated that silane treatment effectively enhanced the dispersion of fillers within the matrix. Additionally, the NFRP composite with 3 wt% SiC exhibited superior mechanical performance, achieving a tensile strength of 68.92 MPa, flexural strength of 110.46 MPa, impact strength of 8.34 kJ/m 2 , Shore D hardness of 87.88, and interlaminar shear strength of 6.64 MPa. Compared to the P‐NFRP composite, the wear resistance improved by 51%, while water absorption decreased by 44%. SEM observations further revealed that fracture mechanisms were strongly influenced by SiC dispersion and interfacial bonding within the composite. Furthermore, regression analysis was employed to statistically validate the experimental results. The findings indicate that incorporating SiC nanoparticles into NFRP composites significantly enhances their overall properties, making them a promising and sustainable alternative to synthetic composites with potential for widespread consumer applications in the coming decades.