Rice bran as a biofiller in glass fiber epoxy hybrid composites: ANOVA analysis of composite properties

In recent years, the incorporation of natural waste-based materials in engineering and technological applications has gained considerable attention due to their sustainability and advantageous properties. Among these materials, rice bran has emerged as a promising biofiller owing to its availability and functional characteristics. This study aims to develop a hybrid composite material by integrating glass fibers and epoxy resin with rice bran filler. The composite specimens were fabricated using the hand lay-up technique, with five varying ratios of rice bran to epoxy resin. Mechanical characterizations, including tensile, flexural, impact, and water absorption tests, were conducted in accordance with relevant ASTM standards. The experimental data were subsequently analyzed using statistical methods, specifically ANOVA, to determine the optimal filler-to-resin ratio that yields the best performance. This investigation underscores the viability of rice bran as a sustainable reinforcement in polymer composites and contributes to the advancement of environmentally friendly materials in engineering applications.