article · Advances in Polymer Technology
Epoxy hybrid composites reinforced with biodegradable natural fibres and graphite particles can deliver high structural performance at low processing cost. Using a conventional casting process combined with a mechanical interlock technique, materials were fabricated with varied proportions of jute and coconut coir alongside graphite. Standard mechanical and tribological testing showed that blending 75 grams of jute with 20 grams of coconut coir achieved the best overall performance among the tested formulations. This specific composite configuration attained the highest hardness, tensile strength, and flexural strength. Wear testing against a steel disc demonstrated that this formulation also possessed superior wear resistance, reducing volumetric wear under load. Such material formulations are targeted at automotive components, offering an alternative to conventional materials in structural and interior settings.
Vehicle manufacturers continuously seek lightweight, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable materials to replace energy-intensive synthetics. By pairing readily available natural fibres such as jute and coconut coir with graphite in an epoxy matrix, these composites achieve mechanical integrity and wear resistance suitable for interior vehicle structures. This approach supports lower manufacturing costs while promoting renewable agricultural by-products.
The tested composite is relevant to automotive component manufacturers seeking materials for interior and non-critical structural parts such as roof panels and seat frames. With laboratory evaluation completed under ASTM mechanical and tribological standards, the technology is at an applied and tested laboratory stage. Further scale-up, durability testing, and component-level moulding assessments will be necessary before real-world adoption in production vehicles can take place.
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Polymer matrix composites synthesized with biodegradable natural fiber obtain a predominant structure with specific properties at a low-processing cost. The unique characteristics of polymer matrix composites were magnetized in automotive parts like top roof, panel, and seat frame applications. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) G99 analyzed the wear characteristics of synthesized composites through a pin-on-disc wear tester with an EN32 steel disc. The epoxy hybrid composites have been synthesized via a conventional casting process assisted with a mechanical interlock technique to obtain a predominant structure with specific properties at a low-processing cost. The advanced composite contained different jute weights (50, 25, 50, and 75 g) and coconut coir (50, 70, 45, and 20 g) hybridized with graphite particles. ASTM D2240, D638, and D790 standards evaluated the fabricated composite hardness, tensile, and flexural strength. The Sample 4 hybrid composite found maximum hardness, tensile, and flexural strength of 27.41 ± 0.99 Hv, 51.69 ± 1.01MPa, and 55.94 ± 0.78 MPa, respectively. Sample 4 offered good wear resistance of their volumetric wear rate of 0.043 cm3 on 40 N average load at 0.25 m/s sliding speed. It is increased by 12% compared to Sample 1 at 40 N applied load on 2.5 m/s sliding speed.
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DOI: 10.1155/2023/6685060
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