Mechanical, thermal, and fatigue behavior of aloe vera fiber/pistachio shell powder toughened epoxy resin composite

An epoxy resin hybrid composite composed of aloe vera fiber and pistachio shell particles was developed and tested for its mechanical, thermal, and load-bearing properties. The primary aim of this present study was to study the significant effect of adding silane treated aloe vera fiber and pistachio shell particles in the properties of brittle epoxy resin and its composites. The 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane was used to treat the surfaces of aloe vera fiber and pistachio shell particles in an aqueous solution and the powerless hand layup process was applied to make composites. In particular, the composites were post-cured in a hot air oven for 12 h to make the composites tougher. The post-cured aloe vera fiber and pistachio shell particle epoxy resin composites were examined in accordance with ASTM standards. The results revealed the PS3 composite outperformed in load-bearing properties. However, the PS4 showed a marginal improvement in wear resistance. Similarly, an increased fatigue resistance was found in an aloe vera fiber and pistachio shell particle composite material PS3 up to 38,725. Adding silane-treated fibers and particles increases both the load-bearing and time-dependent characteristics of the material. Consequently, innovative silane-treated aloe vera and pistachio shell particle reinforcement might be made from biodegradable materials. Using aloe vera fibers and pistachio shell particles, these epoxy bio-composite materials might be employed in a variety of domestic, automotive, structural, and defense applications.