Flammability and morphology of Agel leaf fibre- epoxy composite modified with carbon powder for fishing boat applications

Abstract

Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites have been extensively developed to construct fishing vessels. This study reports on the successful development of the Agel Leaf Fibre (ALF)-Epoxy composite reinforced with carbon powder and fabricated using the Vacuum Infusion method.The composites were prepared by varying the carbon powder filler content at volumes of 0%, 10%, and 30%. The fire resistance of the composites was investigated using a burning test according to ASTM D-3014 standards. The morphology of the composites was observed through SEM analysis and analysed using ImageJ software.The research findings reveal that adding 30% carbon powder in the HCP composite reduced the burning rate by 42.624 mm/sec and the time to ignition by 17.33 seconds, indicating improved fire resistance properties. The carbon powder inhibited flame propagation and reduced the combustion rate by 0.49%. The SEM examination confirmed that the fibre porosity decreased, resulting in a denser composite with enhanced fibre-matrix adhesion. Therefore, the implementation of fire-resistant composite materials in fishing vessel construction can be realised.The present study primarily examined the immediate effects of carbon powder additions on the morphology of the composites. However, it is crucial to consider these composites’ long-term stability and durability. Future research should investigate the ageing behaviour, considering environmental factors such as humidity, temperature, and UV radiation, to assess their impact on the morphology and flammability resistance of the composites. Additionally, it is essential to acknowledge that other factors, including fibre orientation, fibre length, and matrix properties, can significantly influence the overall performance of the composites.The enhanced flammability resistance of Agel Leaf Fibre-Epoxy composites with carbon powder additions holds significant benefits for fishing boat applications. In marine environments, the risk of fire incidents on fishing boats is high, making materials with good fire resistance highly desirable. Therefore, implementing fire-resistant composite materials in fishing boat construction can be realised to reduce the risk of fire incidents in high-seas fishing vessels.Composites with added carbon powder exhibited smaller flames, slower burning rates, and a lack of significant flame propagation. This suggests that adding carbon powder acts as an oxygen barrier and reduces the availability of fuel within the composite.

Evaluation of mechanical and morphological properties composite of Agel Leaf Fiber (ALF)-epoxy modified with carbon powder

“…The results indicate that the composite material can be well bonded, thus contributing to the flexural strength. The distribution of carbon powder in the epoxy matrix is high, non-uniform and tends to form agglomerates [17,21,29]. From this study, the use of ALF natural fibres as reinforcement in composite materials offers several advantages, including lower weight and cost compared to synthetic fibres, as well as being environmentally friendly and sustainable.…”

Study on Mechanical Properties of Pineapple Leaf-Glass Fiber Hybrid Composites for Car Body Applications

“…Representative volume elements with random fibre distribution are widely used in micromechanics to determine the properties of unidirectional fibre-reinforced composites from their microstructure [1]. The use and utilisation of composite materials is growing, along with the increasing use of these increasingly widespread materials ranging from simple ones such as household appliances to the industrial sector, both small-scale and large-scale industries [2]. Figure 1.…”