Experimental investigations on the effect of palm oil in kenaf fibre-reinforced basalt particulate hybrid biocomposite

Natural fibres hold numerous advantages over synthetic ones: eco-friendly, minimal health hazards, lesser density, low cost, biodegradability, and availability. The effect of bio-oil derived from palm oil manages the macro-porosity within the composite material, guarantees adequate cohesion between fibres and matrix, and ensures proper impregnation of fibre pull. In this present work, the effect of bio-oil of palm oil in natural fillers of basalt is added in kenaf fibres in mat form reinforced with epoxy matrix hybrid biocomposite which was fabricated by hand lay-up technique. Five different sequences were followed with varying fibre filler weight fractions. The composite ratio of 1:1 was followed through reinforcement, and matrix materials were experimentally investigated by mechanical properties of tensile, flexural, and impact strength. This study also examined the impact of the impregnation process on the mechanical properties of hybrid composite. The results show an average of 5% improved mechanical properties are 28.24 MPa, 31.26 MPa in tensile and flexural strength; and 74 shore D hardness number was observed in sample A and 15 J impact energy in sample E of biocomposites due to the bio-oil impregnation process. Furthermore, bio-oil-impregnated biocomposite absorbs additional weight during the structural loading. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis was conducted to examine the surface morphology of biocomposites and identify the failure mode during mechanical testing.