Experimental Study on Mechanical and Tribological Characterization of Arecanut Shell Fibre Reinforced Composites with MWCNT Nanofillers

Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | Special Issue 01 | Page : 47 64
    By

    Srikanth H V,

  • Santhosh N,

  • Praveena B A,

  • Rajadurai M,

  • Ramvishal G,

  1. Professor, Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  2. Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dayananda Sagar Academy of Technology and Management, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  3. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  4. Associate Professor, Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  5. Assistant Professor, Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT), Bangaluru, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Natural fiber-reinforced composites (NFRCs) are emerging as sustainable alternatives to conventional synthetic composites due to their eco-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and favorable mechanical properties. This study evaluates the mechanical and tribological performance of Areca Nutshell Fiber (ANSF)-reinforced epoxy composites with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as nanofillers. The composites were fabricated using the vacuum bag molding technique. Tensile tests assessed strength, modulus, and elongation, while flexural tests evaluated bending resistance. Pin-on-disc tests examined wear behavior under varying conditions. Results indicate that 30 wt. % ANSF enhances tensile strength to 32.5 MPa and flexural strength to 55.7 MPa. The addition of 1.5 wt. % MWCNTs further improves Young’s modulus (2.1 GPa) and flexural modulus (3.4 GPa). Tribological tests show a 30% reduction in wear rate and a 25% decrease in coefficient of friction under oil-based lubrication. These findings suggest that ANSF-MWCNT epoxy composites are suitable for automotive, aerospace, and biomedical applications requiring high durability and wear resistance.

Keywords: Areca nutshell fibre, characteristics, composites, epoxy, mechanical, multi walled carbon nanotubes, nanofillers, tribological.

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

How to cite this article:
Srikanth H V, Santhosh N, Praveena B A, Rajadurai M, Ramvishal G. Experimental Study on Mechanical and Tribological Characterization of Arecanut Shell Fibre Reinforced Composites with MWCNT Nanofillers. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2025; 14(01):47-64.
How to cite this URL:
Srikanth H V, Santhosh N, Praveena B A, Rajadurai M, Ramvishal G. Experimental Study on Mechanical and Tribological Characterization of Arecanut Shell Fibre Reinforced Composites with MWCNT Nanofillers. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2025; 14(01):47-64. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2025/view=235501


References

  1. Santhosh N, Praveena BA, Rudra Naik MN, et al. Effect of aging on the biopolymer composites: mechanisms, modes and characterization. Polym Compos. 2022;43(7):4115–25. doi:10.1002/pc.26415.
  2. Kamath SS, Sampathkumar D, Bennehalli B. A review on natural areca fibre reinforced polymer composite materials. Cienc Tecnol Mater. 2017;29(3):106–28. doi:10.1016/j.ctmat.2017.10.001.
  3. Ramesha K, Santhosh N, Kiran K, et al. Effect of the process parameters on machining of GFRP composites for different conditions of abrasive water suspension jet machining. Arab J Sci Eng. doi:10.1007/s13369-019-03973-w.
  4. Kerni L, Singh S, Patnaik A, et al. A review on natural fiber reinforced composites. Mater Today Proc. 2020;28:1616–21. doi:10.1016/j.matpr.2020.04.851.
  5. Anand PB, Aswathanarayan MS, Nagaraja S, et al. Synthesis and characterization of mechanical properties of dammar gum-epoxy bio-composites with areca nut husk and banana fiber as reinforcements for biomedical applications. J Chem Eng Jpn. 2024;57(1):2438111. doi:10.1080/00219592.2024.2438111.
  6. Kamath SS, Sampathkumar D, Bennehalli B. A review on natural areca fibre reinforced polymer composite materials. Cienc Tecnol Mater. 2017;29(3):106–28. doi:10.1016/j.ctmat.2017.10.001.
  7. Ramesha K, Santhosh N, Kiran K, et al. Effect of the process parameters on machining of GFRP composites for different conditions of abrasive water suspension jet machining. Arab J Sci Eng. doi:10.1007/s13369-019-03973-w.
  8. Kerni L, Singh S, Patnaik A, et al. A review on natural fiber reinforced composites. Mater Today Proc. 2020;28:1616–21. doi:10.1016/j.matpr.2020.04.851.
  9. Anand PB, Aswathanarayan MS, Nagaraja S, et al. Synthesis and characterization of mechanical properties of dammar gum-epoxy bio-composites with areca nut husk and banana fiber as reinforcements for biomedical applications. J Chem Eng Jpn. 2024;57(1):2438111. doi:10.1080/00219592.2024.2438111.
  10. Kamath SS, Chandrappa RK. Additives used in natural fibre reinforced polymer composites—a review. Mater Today Proc. 2021;50:1417–24. doi:10.1016/j.matpr.2021.08.331.
  11. Amjad AI. Bamboo fibre: a sustainable solution for textile manufacturing. Adv Bamboo Sci. 2024;7:100088. doi:10.1016/j.bamboo.2024.100088.
  12. Rubino F, Nisticò A, Tucci F, et al. Marine application of fiber reinforced composites: a review. J Mar Sci Eng. 2020;8(1):26. doi:10.3390/jmse8010026.
  13. Malyadri T, Suresh Kumar J, Nagaraja S. Impact of graphene nanoparticles on static and dynamic mechanical properties of basalt-glass fibre reinforced epoxy polymer hybrid composites. Adv Mater Process Technol. doi:10.1080/2374068X.2024.2424032.
  14. D J ER, et al. Manufacturing and experimental characterization of new-developed natural fiber reinforced polymer nanocomposite. J Mater Res Technol. 2023;26:6084–95. doi:10.1016/j.jmrt.2023.08.187.
  15. Hakeem KR, Jawaid M, Rashid U. Biomass and bioenergy: processing and properties. Springer; 2014. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-07641-6.
  16. Abdul Khalil HPS, Bhat IUH, Jawaid M, et al. Bamboo fibre reinforced biocomposites: a review. Mater Des. 2012;42:353–68. doi:10.1016/j.matdes.2012.06.015.
  17. Anand PB, Aswathanarayan MS, Nagaraja S, et al. Synthesis and characterization of mechanical properties of dammar gum-epoxy bio-composites with areca nut husk and banana fiber as reinforcements for biomedical applications. J Chem Eng Jpn. 2024;57(1). doi:10.1080/00219592.2024.2438111.
  18. Okubo K, Fujii T, Yamamoto Y. Development of bamboo-based polymer composites and their mechanical properties. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf. 2004;35(3):377–83. doi:10.1016/j.compositesa.2003.09.017.
  19. Hasan KMF, et al. Sustainable bamboo fiber reinforced polymeric composites for structural applications: a mini review of recent advances and future prospects. Case Stud Chem Environ Eng. 2023;8:100362. doi:10.1016/j.cscee.2023.100362.
  20. Kumar KN, et al. Mechanical and thermal properties of bamboo fiber-reinforced PLA polymer composites: a critical study. Genet Res (Camb). 2022;2022:1332157. doi:10.1155/2022/1332157.
  21. Radzi A, et al. Bamboo-fiber-reinforced thermoset and thermoplastic potential applications. Polym (Basel). 2022;14:1387.
  22. Kaur N, Saxena S, Gaur H, et al. Una revisión sobre los compuestos de fibra de bambú y sus aplicaciones. 2017:843–9. Available from: IEEE Xplore.
  23. Santhosh N, Nagaraja S, Praveena BA, et al. Innovative eco-friendly bio-composites: a comprehensive review of the fabrication, characterization, and applications. Rev Adv Mater Sci. 2024;63(1):20240057. doi:10.1515/rams-2024-0057.
  24. Martijanti M, Sutarno S, Juwono AL. Polymer composite fabrication reinforced with bamboo fiber for particle board product raw material application. Polym (Basel). 2021;13(24):4377. doi:10.3390/polym13244377.
  25. RM, Bansal S, Raichurkar P. Experimental study of bamboo using banana and linen fibre reinforced polymeric composites. Perspect Sci. 2016;8:313–6. doi:10.1016/j.pisc.2016.04.063.
  26. Oliveira M, Neves V, Banea MD. Mechanical and thermal characterization of bamboo and interlaminar hybrid bamboo/synthetic fibre-reinforced epoxy composites. Materials (Basel). 2024;17(8):1777. doi:10.3390/ma17081777.
  27. Shi J, Zhang W, Gu S, et al. Physical and mechanical properties of bamboo fiber/glass fiber mesh reinforced epoxy resin hybrid composites: effect of fiber stacking sequence. J Nat Fibers. 2023;20(1). doi:10.1080/15440478.2023.2167145.
  28. Kore S, et al. Performance of hybridized bamboo-carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene composites processed using wet laid technique. Compos Part C Open Access. 2021;6:100185. doi:10.1016/j.jcomc.2021.2021.100185.
  29. Madhu P, Girijappa YGT, Pradeep S. Studies on mechanical properties of bamboo/carbon fiber reinforced epoxy hybrid composites filled with SiC particulates. Int J Eng Res Gen Sci. 2018;6(5):43–50.
  30. Srinivasa MR, Rammohan YS, Sadashiva M, et al. Studies on tensile properties of graphene hydroxyl reinforced aluminium 6061 composites for vehicle structures applications. Int J Veh Struct Syst. 2022;14(2).
  31. Kamath SS, et al. Tensile and flexural behaviour of areca husk fibre reinforced epoxy composite. Lect Notes Mech Eng. 2021:35–43. doi:10.1007/978-981-15-5151-2_4.
  32. Badyankal PV, Manjunatha TS, Shivakumar Gouda PS, et al. An inquisition on alkaline treated banana/sisal/pineapple fiber epoxy composites for light to moderate load applications. Eng Res Express. 2024;6(1). doi:10.1088/2631-8695/ad299d.
  33. Mostafa NH. Tensile and fatigue properties of jute-glass hybrid fibre reinforced epoxy composites. Mater Res Express. 2019;6(8). doi:10.1088/2053-1591/ab21f9.
  34. Chougala V, Gowda AC, Nagaraja S, Ammarullah MI. Effect of chemical treatments on mechanical properties of sugarcane bagasse fiber-based biocomposites: a review. J Nat Fibers. 2024;22(1). doi:10.1080/15440478.2024.2445571.
  35. Zhou S, Li J, Kang S, et al. Impact properties analysis of bamboo/glass fiber hybrid composites. J Nat Fibers. 2022;19(1):329–38. doi:10.1080/15440478.2020.1745114.
Special Issue Subscription Review Article
Volume 14
Special Issue 01
Received 17/04/2025
Accepted 16/06/2025
Published 31/12/2025
Publication Time 258 Days
118

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics