Strength-enhanced poly-fiber hybrid nanocomposites developed with SiC integration

This study examines the mechanical and thermal behavior of composite that is made by using jute, glass and kenaf fibers reinforced with different fractions of weight of silicon carbide (SiC). A series of composites with varying loadings of SiC was made and their tensile strength, flexural strength, fracture toughness, moisture absorption and thermal stability critically examined. Tensile and flexural experiments were carried out to evaluate the structural performance of the laminates under the loading conditions and the microhardness and fracture toughness were measured to identify the resistance of the crack. The experiments to examine the moisture absorption involved the composites to investigate their hydrophobic behavior which is a major condition of durability in wet conditions. The moisture absorption tests revealed that an increase in the SiC content significantly lowered the water uptake thus enhancing resistance to degradation caused by moisture. The stability of the thermal decomposition and the thermal stability of the compound were analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The findings have shown that the addition of 3 wt% SiC resulted in significant changes in mechanical strength and moisture resistance, and the TGA provided evidence of increased thermal stability with additional changes in the concentration of SiC for the use in the area of sustainable application like automobile, construction, aerospace.