Mechanical, Thermal, and Thermogravimetric Characterization of Pebble Natural Filler-Reinforced Epoxy Composites Fabricated by the Hand Lay-Up Technique

Abstract

The mechanical, dynamic, and thermal properties of an epoxy-based composite reinforced with pebble fillers and carbon fibres were investigated. Experimental evaluations were conducted to determine tensile, flexural, impact, and interlaminar shear strengths. The study compares the mechanical behaviour of carbon fibre-reinforced composites fabricated using conventional epoxy (NE) as the matrix material. Comparative analyses were performed on composites containing 15 wt% and 20 wt% carbon fibre. In addition, compressive strength and damping ratio were assessed to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of composite performance. The epoxy resin was reinforced with unidirectionally aligned carbon fibres at 15 wt% and 20 wt%, along with pebble fillers, to produce hybrid composite specimens. The primary objective of this research was to gain a deeper understanding of the interfacial bonding mechanisms between the damping materials and the epoxy matrix, thereby improving the overall bonding performance. The findings contribute to the selection of suitable materials for engineering applications and support the design and development of high-performance composite structures.