Mechanical, thermal stability and water uptake behaviour of silane-modified chitosan particle and morinda-citrifolia fibre-reinforced epoxy bio-composite

In this research epoxy hybrid composite was prepared by natural filler (Chitosan) and fibre (morinda-chrifolia) for structural, automobile, air-craft products and domestic applications. The principal aim of this research work is explicating the advantage of adding silane-modified chitosan bio particle and morinda-chrifolia fibre in epoxy resin structural composite. Chitosan bio particle of size 3 μm was used for making composites. Similarly morinda-chrifolia cellouse removed natural fibre was used as reinforcement. The mechanical results showed that the composites made by surface-modified morinda-chrifolia fibre gave better tensile, flexural, impact, ILSS and wear properties. The maximum tensile strength of 142 MPa, flexural strength of 235 Mpa and impact energy of 5.4 was observed for composite designation EMC₂. Lower coefficient of friction of 0.11 was seen for composite designation EMC₃, which resulted in high wear resistance. Similarly surface-modified chitosan bio-particle added morinda-chrifolia fibre-reinforced epoxy composite designation EMC₃ showed improved initial and rapid thermal stability of 17% and 11%. The SEM morphology revealed that surface-modified Chitosan and fibre gave improved adhesion and uniform dispersion on matrix. The water uptake results showed higher hydrophobic nature of surface-modified EMC₃ after immersion. Improvement of 35% was seen on comparing with as-received composite with same designation. (paper)