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The water uptake behavior of Wood Dust (WD)/Prosopis Juliflora Fiber (PJF)/Phenol-Formaldehyde (PF) hybrid composites which are immersed in distilled and seawater environments was evaluated. Three different composite samples were fabricated by reinforcing WD and PJF with PF resin. The fabricated specimens were immersed in sea and distilled water to note down the moisture content absorption of the specimens for different time intervals from 0 to 240 h. The dry and wet specimens underwent mechanical properties testing as per ASTM standards and the findings for wet and dry specimens have been compared and analyzed. It is observed that the specimens which are immersed in sea (salt) water absorb more moisture content than the specimen immersed in distilled water and the PJF-rich (30 wt% of PJF & 10 wt % of WD) specimen absorbs more water than the other specimens. The water uptake behavior of the WD/PJF/PF hybrid composite follows a non-Fickian behavior. The mechanical performance (tensile, flexural, and impact) of the 10 wt % of WD 30 wt % of PJF specimen was better than that of other specimens at dry (before immersion) conditions and lost strength when immersed in sea and distilled water. SEM analysis was also done on the broken surface of the tested specimens which were exposed to the water environment.

This paper highlights the results of an experimental study on the preparation and characterization of Luffa cylindricafiber (LCF) and groundnut shell particle (GSP) reinforced phenol-formaldehyde (PF) hybrid composites. The amount of LCFs was fixed at 25 wt%, while the amount of groundnut shell particles ranged from 0 to 25 wt%. Observations were made regarding the water absorption and thickness swelling behaviour of prepared hybrid composites. In addition, the mechanical behaviours of hybrid composites have been studied under both dry and wet conditions. In comparison to dry conditions, the mechanical properties of the hybrid composites were lower when they were wet. Hybrid composites comprising 25% Luffa cylindicafibre and 15% groundnut shell particle (25LCF/15GSP) exhibit the highest level of mechanical properties under both conditions. The percentages of water absorption and thickness swelling increase as groundnut shell particles increase. The composite 25LCF/25GSP exhibited the highest percentage of water absorption and thickness swelling. Compared to date palm leaf (DPL)-reinforced composites, 25LCF/15GSP showed more significant mechanical and physical properties. We concluded that the inclusion of groundnut shell particles in LCF/PF composites substantially improved the mechanical properties of the hybrid composite. The range of increment, however, was narrower under moist conditions compared to dry conditions.

Background: The researchers are in the situation to satisfy the demand for engineering materials by developing novel eco-friendly materials. The natural fiber composites are the substitutes for the synthetic material. Introduction: The mechanical properties of curaua fiber-reinforced polyester (CFRP) composites were investigated, as well as the effects of curaua fibre infusion with Babool Wood particles (BWP). Methods: The composite specimens were fabricated using a hand lay-up approach using varying amounts of curaua fibres (CF) and babool wood particles in a 1:1 ratio in order to test the tensile strength and flexural strength. Results: The results demonstrated that before weakening, the tensile strength and flexural strength of the composite samples rose by up to 40% for hybrid reinforcements. Comparing samples made of pure resin to those made of the composite at 40 weight percent (CF20/BWP20), the tensile and bending strengths of the composite are improved by 93.42% and 86.4%, respectively. Conclusion: The tensile and flexural modulus values of the hybrid composites increased by up to 50% fiber, but less successfully (CF25 and BWP25). The fracture mechanism of the shattered composite samples was examined using scanning electron microscopy.