Mechanical and Dynamic Characterization of Agricultural Waste Particle Reinforced Epoxy Composites
Abstract
In this study, the mechanical and dynamic properties of particle reinforced epoxy composites produced by incorporating agricultural waste derived microparticles into an epoxy resin matrix were investigated. Microparticles obtained from the roots of Brassica oleracea var. capitata cabbage and Beta vulgaris var. cicla chard were added to the epoxy matrix at 1, 2, and 3 percent by weight. The main aim of the study was to develop environmentally friendly and sustainable composite systems that contribute to the reuse of natural waste materials. The effect of reinforcement content on composite performance was evaluated by SEM imaging, three point bending tests, and vibration analyses. The results showed that the addition of natural microparticles generally improved the vibration damping behavior of epoxy composites, while causing a reduction in flexural strength. The first damping ratio increased by 43 percent in composites reinforced with 1 percent cabbage microparticles and by up to 91 percent in composites containing 1 percent chard microparticles. SEM observations indicated that cabbage microparticles had a rougher surface morphology, which promoted better interfacial bonding and provided superior mechanical performance compared with chard. However, at higher reinforcement contents, agglomeration, particle size variations, and microstructural discontinuities negatively affected the mechanical properties. These findings indicate that particle size, dispersion quality, and reinforcement content should be carefully optimized to achieve balanced performance.
Keywords
Agricultural waste, Epoxy composites, Cabbage microparticles, Chard microparticles, Flexural strength, Waste management
Ethical Statement
Thanks
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