Exploring the mechanical and thermal properties of sustainable epoxy composites reinforced with Ethiopian false banana fiber

This work evaluates the mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy-based nanocomposites reinforced with synthesized banana fibers sourced from West Guji Zone in Ethiopia. In particular, the availability and sustainable nature of false banana fiber make it an alternative option for synthetic fibers in composite manufacturing. Epoxy composites were fabricated from three epoxy resin compositions (i.e., 260 g, 325 g, and 390 g) with three different orientations (0°, 45°, and 90°) of banana fibers. The composite specimens were fabricated by compression and manual molding. The fracture surface morphologies and interface bonding strength between the fiber and epoxy matrix will be analyzed by SEM. From the findings, it is evident that the composite material with fibres oriented at 45° with an epoxy resin of 390 g has excellent mechanical properties. The composite exhibited tensile strength of 160 MPa, compressive strength of 50 MPa, flexural strength of 625 MPa, and impact energy absorption of 8.5 J. The SEM micrograph showed that there is an excellent interaction between the fibre and the matrix, with minimal voids and bonded surface, which indicates an efficient transfer of stresses from fibre to matrix. From the TGA plot, the weight loss of 25.15% between 655 °C and 703 °C shows that the composite is thermally stable. These results have demonstrated that False banana fiber reinforced epoxy composites can be considered viable and environmental friendly substitutes for synthetic fiber composites through the demonstration of their mechanical and thermal properties and also provides another contribution towards the development of green material technologies by utilizing the potential of agricultural waste fibers.