DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HYBRID POLYPROPYLENE COMPOSITES REINFORCED WITH CALOTROPIS GIGANTEA FIBER AND FLY ASH FOR ENHANCED MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

Abstract

Calotropis gigantea is a common weed found in several Asian countries, currently lacks industrial application and economic support to the region despite its excellent mechanical properties. This research focuses on the development and characterization of a novel hybrid composite material, incorporating Calotropis gigantea stem (CGS) fiber and fly ash (FA) as reinforcement materials within a polypropylene (PP) matrix at varying the weight percent of CGS fiber powder content at 5 weight percent, 10 weight percent, 15 weight percent, and 20 weight percent while maintaining a constant 10 weight percent fly ash content. The physical properties, including density, void content and water absorption and mechanical properties, including tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact resistance, were evaluated, demonstrating that the introduction of CGS fiber and fly ash significantly enhances the mechanical properties of the composites. The stress-strain curves and load-deflection behaviours were recorded. The maximum tensile strength, flexural strength and impact resistance was observed at 10 weight percent of CGS fiber and 10 weight percent of fly ash content. Furthermore, morphological studies using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) offered insights into the microstructural features, illustrating a well-integrated fiber-matrix interface and confirmed uniform distribution of reinforcements. This study introduces a sustainable approach to composite development by leveraging the mechanical benefits of CGS fiber and the cost-effectiveness of fly ash, offering a promising alternative for high-performance, environmentally friendly and to produce lighter weight composite materials.