Mechanical and machining behavior of betel nut fiber/leather/chitin-toughened epoxy hybrid composite

The present research was based on a hybrid epoxy composite, which was made using betel nut fiber and goat leather with chitin biopolymer toughener (CBP). This research primarily investigated the effect of high-damping-waste goat leather addition along with betel nut fiber in CBP-toughened epoxy resin and its mechanical, machining, and fatigue behavior. The laminates were fabricated by hand layup process with the stacking order of betel nut fiber/goat leather/betel nut fiber (FLF). The CBP biopolymer addition was restricted to 1.0 vol.% in matrix. The composites were post-cured at 120 °C and characterized according to respective ASTM standards. According to the results the FLF2 composite designation in silane treated form showed increased mechanical properties. However, the as-received FLF stacking order gives lesser mechanical properties. In machining the silane-treated fiber and leather showed highest dimensional stability with high fiber/leather/resin interface. Similarly, highest fatigue life counts of 32,847 were recorded for FLF2 composite with treated reinforcements. Thus, it is suggested that the use of betel nut fiber/leather/betel nut fiber layup sequences with silane-treated 1.0 vol. % CBP gives the best results. Such mechanical and machining properties improved materials that could be used in defense, automotives, and other high-load bearing industrial applications.