ThermoMechanical Characterization of Calotropis gigantea Stem Powder-Filled Jute Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Filler performs key tasks in enhancing the strength of the composites. Calotropis gigantea is a weed waste typically called White Madar, widely grown in Asian countries. It is ground to powder and used as filler. Thus the present work deals with the development of three different jute fiber reinforc...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: A. Vinod, R. Vijay, D. Lenin Singaravelu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2018-09-01
Series:Journal of Natural Fibers
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2017.1354740
Description
Summary:Filler performs key tasks in enhancing the strength of the composites. Calotropis gigantea is a weed waste typically called White Madar, widely grown in Asian countries. It is ground to powder and used as filler. Thus the present work deals with the development of three different jute fiber reinforced epoxy composite filled without and with various weight proportion of Calotropis gigantea stem powder namely 5 and 10 weight percentage using conventional hand lay-up technique. The developed composites are tested for its mechanical properties as per ASTM standards and thermal stability using the Thermo Gravimetric Analyzer. The composite which is filled with 10 weight percentage Calotropis gigantea powder filler showed superior properties in both thermal and mechanical characteristics due to its higher filler content which possess constituents like cellulose, lignin, etc. Scanning Electron Microscopy helped to analyze the fiber pullout, fractured interface, filler distribution, voids of the composites.
ISSN:1544-0478
1544-046X