Mechanical Performance of Bio‐Waste‐Filled Carbon Fabric/Epoxy Composites

The aim of this study is to incorporate bio‐waste fillers that is, micro rice husk powder (RHP) and rice husk ash powder (RHA), into epoxy resins using a three‐roll mill and fabricate composites by reinforcing carbon fabrics via vacuum‐assisted resin transfer molding process and study their mechanical properties. The RHP and RHA fillers were prepared in the size range 2–6 μm by mechano‐ball milling and low‐temperature burning and only mechano‐ball milling, respectively. The effect of various wt% (0.3, 0.5, and 1) of the fillers was investigated in terms of the mechanical properties based on tensile, bending, and tension–tension fatigue tests. The mechanical results revealed optimum strengths, especially flexural (770 MPa, 0.3% RHP) and fatigue (five times fatigue life, 0.5% RHA) properties, due to the powder increasing the adhesive strength between the fiber and matrix and making crazes for arresting the development of cracks; these were further supported by the micro‐observations made using a scanning electron microscope. Overall, this study addresses environmental pollution by utilizing bio‐waste materials in carbon‐reinforced polymer composites with decent properties. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E1504–E1511, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers