Analysis of thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of epoxy bio-composites reinforced with sisal fibers and carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Abstract The present study focuses on the fabrication and analysis of thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of epoxy bio-composites reinforced with 15 wt.% sisal fibers and varying carbon nanotube (CNT) content (0–2.0 wt.%). As per the results, incorporation of 1.0 wt.% CNT significantly enhances thermal and mechanical properties of the composite. Compared to the baseline composite without CNTs, thermal degradation onset has been improved by approximately 13%, while crystallinity and thermal resilience also increased. The storage modulus and loss modulus rose by approximately 79% and 197% respectively, indicating greater stiffness and energy absorption capacity. The damping factor (tan δ) decreased by over 56%, implying enhanced load-bearing capability with reduced energy dissipation. These improvements are attributed to better interfacial bonding and uniform CNT dispersion at 1.0 wt.%. The SEM analysis of epoxy bio-composites also revealed that the optimal dispersion and strong interfacial bonding are achieved at 1.0 wt.% CNT. Overall, the findings demonstrate that optimal thermal stability and viscoelastic properties occur at low CNT content in natural fiber composites, making them suitable for advanced structural applications in automotive, aerospace, and packaging sectors.