Valorization of Areca agricultural waste into sustainable fiber reinforced bisphenol F epoxy resin composites for technical textile applications

This study explores the development and characterization of fiber reinforced composites (FRC) using sustainable agriculture waste Areca fibers Bisphenol F (BPF) epoxy resin and different compositions 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60. The objective was to assess the potential of these composites for applications in the technical textiles sector. The composites were evaluated for their mechanical properties, such as internal bonding strength, bending modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), and screw pulling resistance, to understand the structural performance of composites. In addition, thermal stability was studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), while Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was utilized to investigate the chemical interactions between the Areca fibers and BPF resin. The findings reveal that the mechanical properties of the composites are significantly affected by the Areca fiber ratio to BPF. The 10:90 and 20:80 compositions exhibited superior modulus of rupture, internal bonding strength and flexural properties, which can be attributed to improved interfacial adhesion, effective resin wetting, and enhanced stress transfer between the fibers and the matrix. In contrast, increasing the fiber content to 30:70 and 40:60 led to a gradual reduction in mechanical performance, likely due to higher fiber volume fractions (32.7, 43 respectively) that weaken the composite structure. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of chemical bonds between the BPF matrix and Areca fibers. Furthermore, DSC and TGA results indicated that composites with higher BPF content exhibited enhanced thermal stability. The screw withdrawal test further highlighted the potential for these composites in applications requiring high resistance to mechanical stress. These results suggest that Areca fiber and BPF composites are a promising and sustainable alternative for technical textiles, offering both mechanical strength and thermal durability, along with environmental advantages.