Preparation, characterization and erosion response of jute-epoxy composites reinforced with SiC derived from rice husk

This paper depicts the processing and mechanical characterization of a new class of multi-phase composites consisting of epoxy resin reinforced with jute fiber and filled with silicon carbide (SiC) particulates. The SiC used as filler material in this work has been prepared from rice husk through plasma processing technique. The effect of filler in modifying the physical and mechanical properties of jute-epoxy composites has been studied. It is found that the incorporation of rice husk derived SiC modifies the tensile, flexural and inter-laminar shear strengths of the jute-epoxy composites. The micro-hardness and density of the composites are also greatly influenced by the content of these fillers. This paper also presents a study on the solid particle erosion response of this new class of composites. Erosion trials are carried out at various test conditions. For this, an air jet type erosion test rig and Taguchi's orthogonal arrays are used. Significant control factors influencing the erosion wear rate are identified.