Effect of Sesbania grandiflora stem fiber reinforcement on mechanical, chemical, thermal, and physical properties of vinyl ester material

Abstract

As natural fibers in composites improve performance and reduce non-renewable resource use, the present study develops a vinyl ester composite reinforced with Sesbania grandiflora stem fibers which is available in nature. For the first time, the stem fiber of Sesbania grandiflora was reinforced with vinyl ester matrix via compression molding to yield a novel composite material with the detailed characterization of mechanical, physical, thermal, chemical, and fiber-matrix bonding properties. Composites are fabricated using fiber loadings ranging from 0 to 35 wt.%. The composites with 35 wt.% fiber loading had 204.2%, 101.35%, and 287.22% higher tensile, flexural, and impact strengths than those without fiber loading. The composite with 15 wt.% fibers increased hardness the most by 4.56% compared to the bare matrix material. The chemical distribution and thermal stability were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). TGA was employed to assess the thermal stability of the composite. The material’s eco-friendliness was demonstrated by biodegradability testing. The examination of the fracture surfaces under tension provides insights into the bonding properties between the fiber and matrix at the interface. The studies illustrate the capacity of sustainable composites in the fields of aerospace, automobile, and building.