PHYSICAL, MECHANICAL AND MICROSTRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF TERNARY HYBRID BIOCOMPOSITES AT VARIED COMPOSITIONS FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Growing awareness of the need for new resources that can be biodegradable and environmentally friendly for producing composite materials with higher performance has led to the use of bamboo (B), oil palm trunk (OPT), and plastic waste (P) to create biocomposite materials with greater strength and durability. The P was waste, while B and OPT were sourced locally, processed and produced at varied weight percentage(wt%). Characteristics of each of the materials and impacts of mixture ratio on the
composites’ properties were investigated and reported. B exhibited the greatest hardness (87.88±0.02 HV), compressive strength (28.32±0.22 N/mm2), and impact strength (437.14±1.43 J/m2) compared to OPT, and P, and the composition with the highest wt% of bamboo showed the highest hardness (95.37±1.73 HV), compressive strength (34.03±0.29 N/mm2), and impact strength (913.81±10.00 J/m2). OPT absorbs more oil (0.4280%) compared to B, and OPT. The micrographs showed reasonable particle reinforcement and interfacial bonding in the material with the highest wt% of B, which validated the mechanical findings. The composite is suitable for structural and semi-structural automotive parts such as bumper reinforcements, fenders, interior trims, dashboard frames, and door panels where durability and resistance to localised stresses are necessary.