Enhancing Mechanical and Viscoelastic Properties of Natural Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites with Aluminium Oxide Nano Fillers

¹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nandha Engineering College, Perundurai 638052, Tamil Nadu, India
² Department of Safety and Fire Engineering, K.S.R. College of Engineering, Tiruchengode 637215, Tamil Nadu, India
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mahendra Engineering College, Namakkal 637503, Tamil Nadu, India
⁴ Department of Agricultural Engineering, Nandha Engineering College, Perundurai 638052, Tamil Nadu, India
⁵ Department of Mechanical Engineering, K.S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode 637215, Tamil Nadu, India

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published online: 26 September 2025

Abstract

Due to its numerous benefits, such as their high strength-to- weight ratio, low weight, and lightweight construction, natural fiber reinforcing polymeric composites have lately become more popular. The present study involved the fabrication of six laminates. These laminates included natural fibers like palm and bamboo, as well as reinforcing fillers made of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) in an epoxy matrix. Composites with improved tensile qualities were obtained through mechanical testing by combining several types of natural fibers. Also, composites with extremely high energy absorption propertiescaused by carbon nanotubes' high specific energy absorptionshowed an impact enhancement of up to 80.6% when Al₂O₃ was used as a nanofiller. With a storage modulus that was 41% higher and a glass transition temperature (T_g) that was much higher, hybridized composites reinforced with Al₂O₃ demonstrated encouraging results in viscoelastic behavior. It should be mentioned that the mechanical properties were improved after treating the fibers in a NaOH solution before composite manufacturing. This strengthened the interaction adhesion among the epoxy matrix.