Effect of incorporation natural fillers with Sterculia foetida fiber on physical, mechanical, and thermal characterization of epoxy polymer composites

This study places emphasis on investigating the impact of integrating Sterculia foetida fiber and natural fillers into an epoxy matrix. An experimental investigation was conducted to examine the impact of incorporating natural fillers on the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of a novel series of epoxy-based composites reinforced with fibers. The physical and mechanical properties of the composites produced in this study exhibited a higher level of concordance with the previously developed composites that incorporated natural fibers. It was determined that the composites containing 5% fillers and Sterculia foetida fiber exhibited low percentage error and moisture absorption. The composite manufactured with a 5% filler content exhibited superior mechanical qualities in terms of tensile strength, impact resistance, and Rockwell hardness compared to the other composites investigated in this study. The results of thermogravimetric analysis indicate that the incorporation of Sterculia bark and rice husk filler into the composites leads to an enhancement in thermal stability, specifically in relation to the Sterculia foetida content. The cellulose fiber utilized in this study exhibited thermal stability, indicating its appropriateness for usage in applications involving moderate temperatures.