Development and Evaluation of Sodium Hydroxide-Treated Jujube Pit Reinforced Epoxy Composites

Year : 2025 | Volume : 13 | Special Issue 03 | Page : 494 501
    By

    M. Amala Justus Selvam,

  • Joseph Benny Kudiyirican,

  • T.M. Inbamalar,

  1. Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  2. Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  3. Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, R.M.K. College of Engineering and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The automotive sector has experienced a tremendous transformation, propelled by the increasing demand for materials that provide a balance between mechanical performance, economic efficiency, and environmental sustainability. In accordance with worldwide sustainability goals, the trend has moved toward the utilization of lightweight, recyclable, and biodegradable materials in modern vehicle architecture. Natural composite materials, which are derived from renewable resources such as seeds, leaves, and tree barks, have gained considerable attention due to their ability to replace conventional synthetic reinforcements.  Among them, jujube pit fibres represent a potential , underexplored alternative. The current study deals with the fabrication of jujube pit-fibre reinforced epoxy composites through the hand-layup technique.  To enhance the interfacial bonding and mechanical properties, the natural fibers were treated with sodium hydroxide solution. A thorough experimental study is carried out to investigate the tensile strength, flexural properties, and impact resistance of the treated and untreated samples. This work emphasizes the ability of sodium hydroxide-treated jujube pits as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective reinforcement for high-performance polymer composites with potential application in the automotive and allied industries for structural and semi-structural applications.  The findings offer a compelling solution for decreasing reliance on synthetic fibres and enhancing the usage of renewable and sustainable materials in automotive and structural applications.

Keywords: Natural fibre composites, jujube pits, sustainable materials, sodium hydroxide treatment and epoxy composite.

[This article belongs to Special Issue under section in Journal of Polymer and Composites (jopc)]

How to cite this article:
M. Amala Justus Selvam, Joseph Benny Kudiyirican, T.M. Inbamalar. Development and Evaluation of Sodium Hydroxide-Treated Jujube Pit Reinforced Epoxy Composites. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(03):494-501.
How to cite this URL:
M. Amala Justus Selvam, Joseph Benny Kudiyirican, T.M. Inbamalar. Development and Evaluation of Sodium Hydroxide-Treated Jujube Pit Reinforced Epoxy Composites. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2025; 13(03):494-501. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2025/view=211285


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Special Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 13
Special Issue 03
Received 06/11/2024
Accepted 16/12/2024
Published 01/05/2025
Publication Time 176 Days
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