Load-bearing characteristics of a hybird Si3N4-epoxy composite

• Published in: Biomass conversion and biorefinery Vol. 14; no. 20; pp. 25411 - 25419
• Main Authors: Chandrashekhar, Koli Gajanan, A, Shashishankar, B, Depaa RA, Laxmaiah, G., A, Joseph Arockiam, G, Padmanabhan R., P, Ram Kumar, D, Kirubakaran, Ramesh, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-10-2024
• Subjects: Biotechnology; Energy; Original Article; Renewable and Green Energy; Flammability; Fibre; Fatigue; Composites; Nanoparticle; Mechanical
• ISSN: 2190-6815; 2190-6823
• DOI: 10.1007/s13399-023-04577-z

In this study, the epoxy composites were made using Si
3
N
4
nanoparticle obtained from red matta rice husk ash and aluminised glass/pineapple hybrid fibre. The primary objective of this study was to develop lightweight structural composites for domestic infrastructure applications using biomass wastes. The epoxy composites were made using Si
3
N
4
nanoparticle of 0.5 to 4 vol% and hybridised fibre of 40 vol% by hand lay-up method. The mechanical, fatigue and low-velocity impact characteristics of the composites were evaluated as per ASTM standards. The results showed that, among the composites that had been produced, composites with 2 vol% Si
3
N
4
nanoparticle had the highest tensile, impact, flexural and hardness, measuring 168 MPa, 202 MPa, 6.2 J and 93 shore-D. Also, at 50% of UTS, the composite with the addition of 2 vol% Si
3
N
4
nanoparticle had a better fatigue life count of about 36273. Similarly, the improved low-velocity impact strength of composite having 1 vol% of Si
3
N
4
nanoparticle has maximum energy absorption of 11.4 J. Moreover, with the insertion of stacked fibre and Si
3
N
4
nanoparticle, the epoxy composites have low combustion rate showing better flame-retardant behaviour. The results show that composites have been successfully produced for potential applications such as domestic infrastructure products like lightweight man-hole cover, hand rails, gratings, interior decoration panels, doors and windows.