Towards green composites: Bioepoxy composites reinforced with bamboo/basalt/carbon fabrics

Abstract

Recently, the awareness of global warming was stimulated in terms of material usage. Interestingly, the incorporation between fiber reinforcement and epoxy resin was applied in various applications which were entrancing in automotive, construction, and aerospace industrial as hybrid composite materials. The aim of this study is focused on the substitution of synthetic epoxy with bioepoxy resin and also the replacement of synthetic-based composites with fully biobased composites. To the best of our knowledge as of now, there is no work has been published on this concept. The synthetic epoxy and bioepoxy composites with bamboo (BB)/basalt (BS)/carbon (CB) hybrid composites with laminate stacking BSBBBS (basalt + bamboo + basalt) and CBBBCB (carbon + bamboo + carbon) hybrid composites were fabricated by the compression molding technique. The fabricated composites were subjected to the accelerated weathering test. The composites before and after the accelerating weathering test were tested and compared. The properties such as tensile, impact, morphology, thermal analysis, thermomechanical, contact angle, and water absorption tests were carried out. The hybrid composites showed excellent retention in mechanical properties even after the accelerated weathering test. The results showed that the bioepoxy/bamboo/basalt/carbon hybrid composites can be substituted with synthetic epoxy composites in automobile and structural applications in all weather conditions.