Effect of Varying Filler Volume Fractions on Mechanical Properties of Sunflower Seed Husk-Reinforced Epoxy Composite

Abstract

The present study explores the mechanical properties of a polymer composite material composed of an epoxy matrix and sunflower seed husk (SSH) filler. The objective is to investigate the effect of varying filler volume fractions, ranging from 0 to 50 per cent, on the mechanical properties of the composites, namely, tensile, flexural, compression, hardness and impact strength tests. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy images (SEM) were used to analyze the fracture characteristics of the tensile and flexural test specimens. The findings of this research will provide valuable insights into the potential applications of the epoxy-sunflower seed husk composite, shedding light on its mechanical properties. Results demonstrate a reduction in mechanical properties with the addition of SSH filler to the epoxy-based composite, except the impact strength due to higher amount of debonding in the composites.