Effect of Environment on Mechanical Behavior of Thermosetting Composites Reinforced with Bio-filler (Orange Peel Particulate) Materials

Abstract

The behavior of natural fiber depends upon different environmental conditions due to its hydrophilic nature. Therefore, this article has focused on the significant consequence of moisture absorption on the mechanical properties of bio-waste (orange peel) reinforced epoxy composites with different weight percentages (10%, 20%, and 30%) in different environmental conditions such as saline water treatment, steam treatment, and subzero temperature. After attaining saturation, the experiments were carried out by immersing the specimens in previously described environmental conditions—the percentage of moisture content in the fabricated composite increases with an increase in the filler loadings. The mechanical properties of environmentally affected composites were studied as per ASTM standards, and the same values were compared with the properties of the composite in normal environmental conditions. The cracked surface of the tested samples and morphology of orange peel particulates were analyzed by scanning electron microscope. X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) analysis also studied the characterization of orange peel particulates.