Assessment on effect of thermal, mechanical, and water absorption properties of hybrid hemp/pineapple/palm fiber-reinforced epoxy composite

Natural fiber composites have been shown to be capable of replacing synthetic fiber composites in a variety of structural applications. However, the low dimensional stability and high susceptibility to moisture absorption over time hinder natural fibers in their composite applications. This study employed hemp, pineapple, and palm fibers to create natural hybrid fiber composites using an epoxy matrix. This study used variable fiber content to analyze the qualities of composites like thermal, mechanical, and water absorption. Thermal degradation of fiber polymerization was investigated via thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), revealing that the fibers such as hemp, pineapple, and palm are stable up to 241 degrees C, 166 degrees C, and 276 degrees C. According to the findings, pineapple composites outperformed the other composites in terms of brittleness index and water resistance. When compared to pineapple composite, hybrid (palm + hemp + pineapple) composite exhibits greater tensile strength (14%), flexural strength (29%), and water absorption (34%). When exposed to water, however, the mechanical performance of all the composites dropped dramatically. The insulating capacity of hybrid palm and pineapple fiber composite is 8.22% greater than that of pineapple fiber composite. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze the fiber morphology and interfacial bonding in composite samples that had undergone tensile fracture.