Effect of agro waste α-cellulosic micro filler on mechanical and thermal behavior of epoxy composites

Of late, measures are being undertaken to curtail deforestation thereby to save the environment. In this venture, agro waste products are utilized for structural applications instead of wood. By this way, the α-cellulosic micro filler, which are isolated from Cocos nucifera var Aurantiaca Peduncle (CAP) through chemical treatment process, are systematically utilized as a reinforcing material in thermo set epoxy polymers as a replacement by manmade carbon, ceramic fillers and wood derived products. The results on mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural, impact test revealed that these properties of the α-cellulosic micro filler reinforced epoxy composites increased in linear nature for 3 wt% to 15 wt% of filler loading and 15 wt% shows the superior behaviour in their mechanical properties. The internal structure of the fractured mechanical test specimens are investigated through Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM). In addition to that, visco-elastic behaviour, thermal stability of the 15 wt% of α-cellulosic micro filler reinforced epoxy composite were analyzed through dynamic mechanical and thermo gravimetric analysis and compare with pristine epoxy.