Effect of SiO 2 nanospheres on mechanical, thermal and water absorption behaviours of luffa-coir/epoxy hybrid composites

To improve the utilization of natural fibre reinforced polymer composites, this study experimentally investigated the properties and reinforcing effect of SiO2 nanospheres as fillers on mechanical, thermal and water absorption behaviour of luffa/coir hybrid nanocomposites. Structural studies were carried out by x-ray diffraction, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Fracture surface morphology was analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy, which confirms the homogeneous dispersion of SiO2 nanospheres into luffa/coir epoxy hybrid composite. The mechanical test results direct to the inference that hybrid nanocomposite containing 3 vol% of SiO2 nanospheres acquired 49.6%, 78.26%, 13%, 80% and 43.16% of improved tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and impact strength respectively, compared with epoxy composite. Hybrid nanocomposites exhibited better thermal behaviour than epoxy composite such as decomposition temperature and residual char were increased by about 10%, 136% respectively with reduced thermal conductivity. Also, they showed lesser water absorption behaviour as 0.14%. Based on the results, the developed hybrid nanocomposites could be an effective replacement of non-biodegradable plastic fibre products for automobile interiors.