Studies on fatigue, creep, and tribological performance of coconut shell, seashell, and eggshell filler-based bio-fiber-reinforced epoxy hybrid composites

Environmental awareness against synthetic plastics focused on the bio resources (natural fibers, fillers, and bio-resins) for the development of biodegradable composite materials. In the present study, bio nano fillers (seashell, eggshell, and coconut) and bio-fibers (pineapple, sisal, and kenaf) were reinforced with epoxy polymer matrix to develop the bio composite materials. Tribological testing was performed with input parameters (applied load, sliding speed, and sliding distance) and out parameters were recorded in terms of frictional force, coefficient of friction (COF), and specific wear rate (SWR). Fatigue and creep analysis of all prepared composites were performed to analyze the strength of developed composite specimens during fluctuating and static load conditions. Experimental finding of fatigue test reveals that KES composite achieved maximum number of fatigue cycles of 4460, 3250, and 2210 at 25, 50, and 75% ultimate tensile strength (UTS). Creep strain was maximum in SE composite from time 0 to 15,000 s. Frictional force was maximum by PEC and KEC composite of 7.68 N and 1.14 N at 30 N applied load and sliding distance of 1.83. Maximum and minimum COF was achieved by KEC composite and hybrid SE composite of 0.25 and 0.07 at 500 RPM and 10 N load. At 500 RPM and 10 N load, PEE composite achieved maximum SWR of 82 mm³/N-mm and minimum was 5.38 mm³/N-mm by SES composite. Hybrid PSKE composite archived maximum interfacial temperature of 26 °C and minimum was 17 °C by SEE composite at 30 N applied load and 500 RPM.