Development of natural fiber-epoxy and vinyl ester biocomposites for sustainable fabrication of hydrokinetic turbines

Energy access fundamentally drives community development. Powering essential services and infrastructure, reliable electricity facilitates social, economic, health, and educational progress. This study investigates the fabrication and characterization of epoxy (EP) and vinyl ester (VE)-natural fibers biocomposites for use in sustainable energy systems. The novelty of this research is based on an integrated approach that combines the characterization of biocomposites from fique and coir fibers with their application in the production of a functional vertical axis hydrokinetic turbine (VAHT) prototype. Characterization included tensile tests complemented by Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and Izod impact testing. The thermal properties were studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was utilized to examine the adhesion and dispersion of fibers within the matrix. Viscoelastic properties were assessed using Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA). Non-woven composites displayed a substantial stiffening effect, with improvements in tensile modulus reaching up to 33 % over neat resin. Non-woven fique fiber biocomposites showed the highest impact energy absorption (4.5 J), whereas EP-woven fique fiber specimens demonstrated superior tensile strength (35 MPa). Thermal degradation onset for VE-NWFF was observed at 397 ° Celsius. The results of the ANOVA test showed that fiber and fabric type have statistically significant impacts on mechanical performance (p ≤ 0.05). Research findings indicate that developed biocomposites can meet the necessary performance standards for hydrokinetic turbines production, providing a sustainable and cost-efficient alternative for distributed power networks in isolated areas.