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Journal of Polymer & Composites Original Research Special issue

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

  1. M. Amala Justus Selvam Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai
  2. Joseph Benny Kudiyirican Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai
  3. T.M. Inbamalar Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, R.M.K. College of Engineering and Technology, Chennai

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

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