Physico‐mechanical and Flammability Properties of Cyrtostachys renda Fibers Reinforced Phenolic Resin Bio-composites

Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of fiber length and loading on physico-mechanical and flammability properties of Cyrtostachys renda (CR) fiber-reinforced phenolic composites. Waste based Cyrtostachys renda (CR) fiber reinforced phenolic resin derived from cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), bio-composite has been studied. Composites with alkali treated CR fiber length in the ranges of 1.18–0.6, 0.6–0.3 and less than 0.3 mm in 20 wt% and 40 wt% based on weight of phenolic resin were prepared by hot compression. Flammability, water absorption, tensile/flexural/impact tests were carried out on the composites and also characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Composite containing 40 wt% fiber of length less than 0.3 mm has the highest tensile and flexural strengths of 34.27 MPa and 65 MPa respectively. It has been found that water absorption and thickness swelling increases as weight % of fiber increases. For the Underwriters Laboratories (UL 94), all the neat phenolic and addition with CR fiber exhibited NC and H-B classifications for vertical and horizontal respectively, however Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI), of neat phenolic dropped from 29.33 to 26 and 25 for 20 wt% and 40 wt% respectively. Morphology of the tensile fractured laminates revealed that micro pores in fibers are filled with phenolic resin, hence increases the interfacial bonding between fiber and the matrix. The research findings provision that CR fiber reinforced phenolic composites is potential to be utilized as green and biodegradable composites for interior components of automotive and aviation industry. Graphic Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]