Effect of microwave-reduced graphene oxide on the mechanical, thermal, and physical properties of banana fiber reinforced epoxy composites
Küçük Resim Yok
Tarih
2025
Yazarlar
Dergi Başlığı
Dergi ISSN
Cilt Başlığı
Yayıncı
Erişim Hakkı
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Özet
This study presents a comprehensive investigation into enhancing the mechanical and thermal performance of banana fiber-reinforced epoxy composites through the incorporation of microwave-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as a nanofiller. Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized from graphite powder via the improved Hummers’ method. Its successful synthesis and subsequent reduction to rGO were confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy. Raman analysis revealed a characteristic increase in the defect ratio (ID/IG) from 0.12 for pristine graphite to 0.896 for GO, and further to 0.963 for rGO. This trend indicates the formation of numerous, smaller sp² domains upon reduction, a key factor for effective reinforcement. Composite laminates were fabricated by hand lay-up with rGO loadings of 0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.5 wt.%. Mechanical and thermal properties were analyzed. The results demonstrated that the effect of rGO is highly dependent on concentration. For tensile properties, the optimal performance was achieved at 0.2 wt.% rGO, while flexural properties were maximized at 0.5 wt.%. Physical property analysis revealed a decrease in composite density with increasing reinforcement content, a trend attributed to the inherent porosity (lumen) of the banana fibers themselves. Optical microscopy images confirmed the homogeneous distribution of fibers in the matrix, a key factor for composite performance. This research highlights the complex role of rGO in natural fiber composites and underscores the importance of optimizing filler content for specific application requirements.
Açıklama
Anahtar Kelimeler
Mechanical properties, Reduced graphene oxide, Banana fiber, Epoxy composites, Microwave reduction, Natural fiber reinforcement
Kaynak
Journal of innovative engineering and natural science (Online)
WoS Q Değeri
Scopus Q Değeri
Cilt
5
Sayı
2
