Influence of Accelerated Weathering on the Mechanical, Fracture Morphology, Thermal Stability, Contact Angle, and Water Absorption Properties of Natural Fiber Fabric-Based Epoxy Hybrid Composites

Abstract

Epoxy-based biocomposites are a good alternative for metals in lightweight applications. This research has been focused on the effect of accelerated weathering on the mechanical, thermal, contact angle, and water absorption behavior of neat epoxy, individual kenaf and sisal, and kenaf/sisal hybrid epoxy composites. The composite was fabricated by hand layup method. Among the various composites studied, sisal/kenaf/sisal hybrid epoxy composites showed the best properties and retained the thermo-mechanical properties with the lowest water absorption properties even after the weathering test. Thus, composites with hybridized kenaf and sisal with sisal outer layer are encouraging semistructural materials in outdoor applications.