Investigation on mechanical and wear properties of environmentally friendly hybrid <i>Terminalia catappa</i> /Jujube ( <i>Ziziphus</i> ) fruit seed/Neem ( <i>Azadirachta indica</i> ) seed composite for industrial usages

Abstract Industries require cost-effective, lightweight, and sustainable materials for various equipment fabrication purposes. Natural fiber composites are known to fulfill these criteria effectively. This study focused on the development of natural composites using Terminalia catappa fiber, Jujube fruit seed (J), and Neem seed (N), and evaluated their mechanical and wear properties. Composites were fabricated through the hand layup technique, maintaining a fixed resin-to-fiber ratio of 70:30 while varying Jujube fruit seed and Neem seed particle content from 1 to 3 wt.%. The JN (1:0) composite demonstrated superior hardness and tensile strength, measured at 92 Shore-D and 64.6 MPa, respectively. Additionally, this composite exhibited a minimal wear rate, wear loss, and coefficient of friction, recorded at 9 × 10 −5 g m −1 , 0.18 g, and 0.6, respectively. Thermal conductivity was also lowest for the JN (1:0) composite, at 0.11 W m −1 K −1 , attributable to the inclusion of Jujube fruit seed particles. Based on these findings, the JN (1:0) composite appears to be a promising material for applications in the automotive, packaging, and construction industries due to its notable mechanical strength and enhanced wear resistance.