Performance of tampico fiber and passion fruit husk cellulose reinforced epoxy biocomposites

This study investigates the development and performance of eco-friendly hybrid biocomposites reinforced with tampico fiber and passion fruit husk-derived cellulose particles in an epoxy matrix. Composites were fabricated with varying cellulose filler loadings (0–5 vol.%) while maintaining constant fiber content (30 vol.%). Mechanical, thermal, and water absorption behaviors were evaluated following ASTM standards. Results revealed significant enhancement in tensile, flexural, impact strength, and hardness with the incorporation of cellulose fillers up to an optimal level. Among all composites, C3 (3 vol.% cellulose) exhibited the best overall performance, showing approximately 18–25% improvement in tensile strength and 20–30% increase in flexural strength compared to fiber-only composite (C1). Thermal conductivity showed a moderate increase with filler addition, while water absorption decreased due to improved interfacial bonding. SEM analysis confirmed enhanced fiber–matrix adhesion due to silane treatment. The study concludes that optimized hybridization significantly improves multifunctional properties, making these composites suitable for lightweight structural and semi-structural applications.