Sustainable hybrid epoxy composites reinforced with Kenaf fiber banana peel waste and SiC for multifunctional performance
L. Natrayan, Sudhakar Reddy Kota, Kiran Bhaskar, P. Anand, Naga Dheeraj Kumar Reddy Chukka, Ramya Maranan
Abstract
• A novel tri-phase epoxy composite was developed using Kenaf fiber, banana peel waste, and SiC reinforcements. • Five compositions were fabricated to evaluate mechanical, thermal, biodegradability, and moisture absorption properties. • Optimum composition (30% Kenaf, 10% BPW, 5% SiC) achieved tensile strength of 42.8 MPa and flexural strength of 85.6 MPa. • Increased BPW content improved biodegradability (up to 17.2% weight loss) but reduced mechanical performance. • Hybrid composites demonstrated tunable multifunctionality, suitable for structural and biodegradable packaging applications. This study aims to develop and characterize a novel hybrid composite material using Kenaf fiber, banana peel waste (BPW), and silicon carbide (SiC) as reinforcements in an epoxy polymer matrix, targeting sustainable applications in automotive, aerospace, and biodegradable packaging sectors. The novelty of this work lies in the synergistic integration of a natural fiber (Kenaf), agro-waste filler (BPW), and ceramic reinforcement (SiC), which has not been extensively explored in a single composite system. Five different compositions were fabricated with a fixed epoxy content and varying ratios of Kenaf fiber (10–30%), BPW (10–30%), and a constant SiC content (5%) to evaluate their mechanical, thermal, biodegradability, and water absorption properties. The composites were manufactured using a hand lay-up technique followed by hot pressing. Results revealed that the sample with 30% Kenaf, 10% BPW, and 5% SiC exhibited the highest tensile strength (42.8 MPa) and flexural strength (85.6 MPa), as well as the maximum hardness (87.2 Shore D). Conversely, samples with higher BPW content showed enhanced biodegradability (up to 17.2% weight loss in 90 days) and greater water absorption (up to 7.0% after 72 hours), making them ideal for eco-friendly applications. SiC reinforcement significantly contributed to the thermal stability of all samples. The study demonstrates that tailoring the reinforcement content can yield composites with an optimal balance of mechanical durability, environmental sustainability, and biodegradability. This integrated reinforcement strategy provides a new direction in the development of green composites using natural and waste-derived resources for multifunctional applications.