Physical characterization of carbon fiber reinforced composite with blended epoxidized Jatropha oil (EJO) resin

Jatropha oil is an inedible oil that is mainly used for bio-fuel in cars, lorries, machineries and jets as it provides clean combustion, reduced carbon dioxide emission and additional power with unlimited renewable resource; jatropha plant. Several studies have been carried out by researchers to diversify jatropha oil's uses such as lubrification, bio-fuel, traditional medicine etc. This time, jatropha oil was being used as matrix in composite structure by epoxidizing jatropha oil (EJO) itself. This paperwork will present about the physical characterization (density, visual assessment, fiber volume fraction) of EJO blended with synthetic epoxy as resin in carbon fiber reinforced composite panel by vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding VARTM or vacuum infusion technique. It is found that by blending EJO with synthetic epoxy, their physical characteristics are almost the same and comparable except the color of blended EJO was a bit yellowish and matte. Density of composite panel with blended EJO was 4% lower than synthetic epoxy which contributed to lighter materials that could be built and the surface morphology of both are identical. (paper)