Simultaneous Influence of Silanized Bio-Silica and Graphene Oxide on the Mechanical characteristics and Fracture Toughness of Synthesized Epoxidized Soybean Oil

In the current work, the epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) based bio-nanocomposite filled with both nano-silica and graphene oxide was fabricated using MHHPA as a hot curing agent and casting method. The ESO was directly synthesized from vegetable oil the via in-situ method. The bio-silica was prepared from rice husk using a simple combination technique of acid soaking and calcination. The graphene oxide (GO) was also obtained from graphite using Hummer’s method. The chemical structure of ESO, silica, and GO was analyzed using the FTIR technique. The crystal structure of GO was confirmed by the XRD method. The good dispersion of silica and GO in ESO was done with help of a high-speed mechanical stirrer. The combination of silica and GO helped to improve the thermal property of cured ESO. The bio-nanocomposite with the presence of 1.5 wt.% of GO and 20 wt.% of silica showed the best mechanical properties with improvement up to 122% of tensile strength.