Eco‐Engineered Composites: Harnessing Fish Scales for High‐Performance Carbon Fiber/Epoxy Materials

ABSTRACT Carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites are extensively used in the automotive and aerospace industries. As environmental sustainability becomes a greater priority, researchers are working to minimize ecological harm without compromising the materials' key mechanical characteristics. In this study, the fish scales were calcinated to reduce the organic content, which helps to enhance the role of calcinated fish scale (FSC) in the composite. Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis results indicate the successful formation of FSC after reducing the organic matter in the fish scales. The thermal and mechanical properties of the calcinated fish scale‐embedded fiber‐reinforced composites were investigated. The tensile strength, storage modulus, and flexural strength of FS3, that is, at 3 wt.% loading of filler, were enhanced by ~21%, 21.36%, and 4.39% compared to the pristine CFRP composite specimen. The numerical analysis of the fabricated composites was conducted using Ansys Composite Pre‐Post (ACP). The mechanical properties were calculated using the multiscale modeling approach, and the bare and the FS3 composite showed an error percentage of ~4.9 and 0.73%, which correlated well with the experimental data. The results highlight the promising use of fish scale biowaste as a sustainable filler for structural applications.