Effects of fiber content on the mechanical properties of rice straw/carbon/glass fiber reinforced epoxy composites: Experimental and numerical analysis

Abstract

Composite materials are an excellent solution for mitigating the consequences of pursuing the advancement of novel materials in the face of resource scarcity. The global focus is on utilizing naturally occurring fibers to create high-quality composite materials. Rice straw, often considered waste, has the potential to accelerate research on composite materials, offering eco-friendly alternatives and reduced manufacturing costs through collaborative production using synthetic fiber. This investigation was conducted to examine the mechanical qualities associated with fiber length using hand layup with cold press technique. Composites reinforced with short fibers demonstrated reduced tensile and flexural strength but had slightly higher impact strength and moderate water absorption. Continuous fiber-reinforced composites exhibited greater mechanical performance, maximum tensile stress observed in rice straw carbon hybrid composites. Carbon fabric hybrid composites noticeably increased tensile strength, 315.5 MPa, showing better tensile, flexural properties due to the rigid structure of carbon fiber. Water absorption was modest across all samples, is ecofriendly and sustainable material. Short fiber composites also show an excellent diffusion co-efficient, with a low slope of 0.57, showing the rate of water absorption is minimal. The resilience of these composites was beneficial, rendering them appropriate for maritime applications and interior purposes. The eco-friendly hybrid composite, made from rice straw and glass fibers, is suitable for various applications like furniture, sports, marine, automotive, and food packaging.