Tensile Behaviour Performance of Aloe Vera and Banana Fibers Hybrid Epoxy Composites Reinforced with Al 2 O 3 and SiC

This study investigates the tensile behavior of hybrid natural fiber reinforced epoxy composites incorporating aloe vera and banana fiber mats with dual ceramic fillers (Al2O3 and SiC). The composites are fabricated using a hot compression molding technique and tensile test is conducted as per ASTM standards. A Taguchi L9 orthogonal array is employed to optimize filler content at 2.5, 5 and 7.5 wt.%, and statistical analysis is performed using ANOVA to evaluate the influence of process parameters. The results indicate that SiC is the most significant factor influencing tensile strength, with F-values reaching up to ~72.00 and statistical significance (p < .001), whereas Al2O3 exhibits a comparatively lower contribution. The optimized filler combinations result in maximum tensile strengths of approximately 41 MPa for aloe vera composites and 52 MPa for banana fiber composites. The interaction between Al2O3 and SiC demonstrates a synergistic effect at intermediate filler levels, enhancing load transfer and reducing stress concentration. Banana fiber composites exhibit superior tensile performance and higher sensitivity to filler interaction compared to aloe vera systems, indicating improved fiber – matrix bonding. The developed hybrid composites show strong potential for lightweight and sustainable engineering applications.