Published Paper Details:

The growing demand for sustainable and high-performance engineering materials has increased interest in hybrid composites reinforced with natural fibers and nanomaterials. In this study, the mechanical behavior of hybrid composites reinforced with sisal and hemp fibers as primary reinforcements and silicon dioxide (SiO?) nanoparticles as secondary reinforcement is investigated. Natural fibers offer advantages such as low density, biodegradability, and cost effectiveness, while SiO? nanoparticles enhance interfacial bonding and improve load transfer within the epoxy matrix. Composite laminates with different epoxy weight fractions were fabricated using the hand lay-up technique followed by compression moulding and vacuum degassing. The composites were cured at room temperature under applied pressure to ensure uniform dispersion and reduced void content. The fabricated specimens were evaluated for mechanical and thermal properties, including hardness, tensile strength and elongation. The results demonstrate that the incorporation of SiO? nanoparticles along with natural fibers significantly improves the mechanical performance of the composites, making them suitable for lightweight and environmentally sustainable structural applications.