Preparation and Production of Bio‐Epoxy Composites From Sisal Fibers as a Sustainable Material for Lightweight Applications

ABSTRACT Recent studies have focused on the mechanical properties of composites reinforced with natural fibers as a result of the increasing need for eco‐friendly and sustainable composite materials. In this study, the mechanical properties of the bio‐based epoxy composite reinforced with sisal fiber were evaluated through tensile testing, impact testing, flexural testing, scratch hardness testing, and microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the mechanical properties of sisal fiber and bio‐based epoxy composites increase with increasing fiber weight fraction. The composites showed notable enhancements over the neat bio‐based epoxy, with tensile strength increasing from 15.5 to 35.6 MPa while the tensile modulus achieved a maximum value of 1.65 GPa at 30 wt.% fiber loading. Flexural strength and modulus achieved maximum values of 610 MPa and 63 GPa, respectively. The maximum value for the impact energy was found to be 0.189 J, while the scratch hardness achieved 98.29 N/mm 2 . SEM analysis indicated uniform fiber dispersion and effective reinforcement, although fiber pull‐out appeared as a primary failure mechanism. The SEM analysis provided insights into the microstructural features of the composites and their relationship to the mechanical properties. These results demonstrate the potential of sisal fiber and bio‐based epoxy composites as eco‐friendly and sustainable materials in different lightweight composites.