EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

OF BASALT FIBER & INDIAN GOOSEBERRY SEED COAT

POWDER REINFORCED EPOXY COMPOSITES

A Graduate Project Report submitted to Manipal Academy of Higher Education

in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY

in

Mechanical Engineering

By

Mohammed Safwan (190909564)

Under the guidance of

Dr. Suhas Yeshwant Nayak

Assistant Professor - Senior Scale
Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering
MANIPAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

May 2023
 Manipal
05 / 06 /2023

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project titled Experimental Analysis of Mechanical Properties of

Basalt Fiber and Indian Gooseberry seed coat powder reinforced epoxy composites is a

record of the bonafide work done by Mohammed Safwan (190909564) submitted in partial

fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of BACHELOR OF

TECHNOLOGY in MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING of Manipal

Institute of Technology, Manipal, Karnataka (A constituent unit of Manipal Academy of Higher

Education) during the year 2022-2023.

Dr. Suhas Yeshwant Nayak Dr. Sathya Shankara Sharma

Assistant Professor Senior-Scale Head of the department

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Department of Mechanical and Industrial

Engineering Engineering

Manipal Institute of Technology Manipal Institute of Technology

Manipal - 576104 Manipal – 576104

 CONTENTS

Page No.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1
ABSTRACT 2
LIST OF NOTATIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS 3
LIST OF FIGURES 4
LIST OF TABLES 5

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 6-8

Chapter 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 9-11
Chapter 3 OBJECTIVES 12
3.1 METHODOLOGY 13-17
Chapter 4 RESULT ANALYSIS 18-26
4.1 FLEXURAL STRENGTH 18-19
4.2 IMPACT STRENGTH 19-20
4.3 TENSILE STRENGTH 21
4.4 CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ASCP 22-24
4.4.1 GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS 22
4.4.2 FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY (FTIR) 22-24
4.5 SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY 24-27
Chapter 5 CONCLUSIONS AND SCOPE FOR FUTURE WORK 28-29
REFERENCES 31-32
ANNEXURES
Plagiarism Report
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to all those who contributed to
the completion of this project report. First and foremost, we extend our deepest thanks to our
project guide, Dr. Suhas Yeshwant Nayak for his invaluable guidance, support, and
encouragement throughout the entire duration of the project. His expertise and insightful
feedback have been instrumental in shaping the direction and improving the quality of our
work.

We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation and special thanks of immense to Dr.
Sathyashankara Sharma, HOD, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, MIT,
Manipal who gave us the opportunity to do this wonderful project. We are also grateful to Dr.
Srinivas Shenoy of the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, MIT, Manipal,
for his imparted knowledge and for creating an intellectually stimulating environment that
fostered our learning and development.

We would like to extend our appreciation to Mr. J.P. Jaideep and Mr. Tejas G Iyer who
provided us with valuable insights and shared their perspectives, which greatly enriched our
understanding of the subject matter.

Additionally, we would like to thank the staff and personnel of the Mechanical Lab,
Mechanical Workshop, Chemistry Lab, Strength of Materials lab, Advanced Material Testing
lab, and other facilities at Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal for their assistance in
accessing relevant resources and providing the necessary equipment for our project.

Lastly, we would like to acknowledge our families and loved ones for their unwavering support
and understanding during the demanding phases of this project. Their encouragement and
patience have been vital in keeping us motivated and focused. We are deeply grateful to
everyone mentioned above, as well as to all others who have directly or indirectly contributed
to this project. Your support and assistance have been invaluable in the successful completion
of this report.

1
 ABSTRACT

This study investigates the mechanical properties of Amla seed coat powder and basalt fiber-
epoxy reinforced composites with varying filler proportions of 2%, 4%, and 6%. Amla seed
coat powder (ASCP), derived from the Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis), possesses high
nutritional value and has a hard outer shell. Basalt fiber, on the other hand, is a natural volcanic
rock material with excellent mechanical properties. By combining these two materials, a
composite with enhanced properties can be achieved. The composite samples were prepared
using a hand lay-up technique, followed by compression molding. The mechanical properties,
including tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength, were evaluated using
ASTM/ISO standards. Also, the properties of these composites were determined and compared
with composites fabricated without amla seed coat powder. The highest strength was obtained
for 4% ASCP content showing an increase of 258.6%, 41%, and 45% in flexural, tensile, and
impact strengths respectively over the composite without the filler. Additionally, the
morphological characteristics of the composite were examined using scanning electron
microscopy (SEM).

Keywords: Amla seed coat powder (ASCP), basalt fiber, composite, filler, mechanical
properties, scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

2
 LIST OF NOTATIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviation

ASCP Amla Seed Coat Powder

SEM Scanning Electron Microscope

NDF Neutral Detergent Fiber

ADF Acid Detergent Fiber

ADL Acid Detergent Lignin

FTIR Fourier Transform Infrared

CAD Computer-Aided Design

ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials

ISO International Organization for

Standardization

3
 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Number Title of the Figure Page Number

Fig 1 Fabrication flow diagram 14

Fig 2 Hot Air Oven 14

Fig 3 Dried amla seed coat powder 14

Fig 4 Ball grinder 15

Fig 5 Sieving the amla seed coat powder. 15

Fig 6 Finely powdered amla seed coat 15

powder

Fig 7 Refluxing of the solution 16

Fig 8 Filtering using vaccum 16

Fig 9 Treatment of Basalt Fiber 16

Fig 10 Fabrication using hand-layup 17

Fig 11 Fabrication 17

Fig 12 Abrasive Water-Jet Cutting 17

Fig 13 Cut out of the samples. 17

Fig 14 Flexural Testing 18

Fig 15 Impact Testing 18

Fig 16 Tensile Testing 18

Fig 17 Graph showing Flexural Strength 20

of each composite.

Fig 18 Graph showing Impact Strength of 21

each composite.

Fig 19 Graph showing Tensile Strength of 22

each composite.

Fig 20 The FTIR spectroscopy of ASCP 23

Fig 21a SEM micrographs of ASCP2 25

4
Fig 21b SEM micrographs of ASCP2 25

Fig 21c SEM micrographs of ASCP2 25

Fig 22a SEM micrographs of ASCP4 26

Fig 22b SEM micrographs of ASCP4 26

Fig 23a SEM micrographs of ASCP6 27

Fig 23b SEM micrographs of ASCP6 27

5
 LIST OF TABLES

Table Number Title of the Table Page Number

Table 1 Composite name as per 9

proportions of ASCP

Table 2 Composition of the sample 24-25

6
 Chapter 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Composite materials are those materials formed by combining two or more materials with
different chemical and physical properties. The process of creating a composite material does
not involve any chemical reaction. However, the material thus formed will possess properties
that are quite better and different from any one of these materials. Fiber-reinforced polymer
composites constitute a high-performing fiber and a polymer matrix. In this project, we have
used a natural polymer-reinforced composite for its several advantages such as low weight,
biodegradable, less expensive, and exhibiting excellent mechanical properties like high
strength-to-weight ratio, flexibility in design, and resistance against chemicals, weather, wear,
and corrosion. Hence, they are being widely used for construction, automotive, turbine blades,
and so on.(Khalid et al., 2021)

Natural and synthetic fibers are the two types of fibers. Natural fibers such as jute, kenaf, basalt
flax etc. are eco-friendly, cheap, renewable and can be used to make high-performance polymer
composites. These composites possess adequate mechanical properties that is, tensile
properties, flexural, stress-strain behavior, toughness, and fracture strength which make it more
interesting than other composites.(Keya et al., 2019)

While natural fibers effectively have lower mechanical properties when compared with
synthetic fibers (Mustafa, n.d.), it possesses many advantages. For example, it possesses higher
strength and durability(Rashmi Nayak et al., 2022). By carrying out pre-treatment and fiber
orientation, its mechanical properties can be greatly increased(Ding et al., 2017; Mustafa, n.d.).
Moreover, as the raw materials are freely available in nature, it is cost-effective to manufacture.
By possessing good flexural and compressive properties, it is better suited to prevent
cracking(Ding et al., 2017; Wongsa et al., 2020).On the environmental front, it is non-toxic
and biodegradable. Thus, it does not increase the Carbon footprint or create recycling problems.

Fiber made from basalt rocks is one type of natural fiber that was discovered during World
War II. It is used extensively in defence, industrial, automobile, and aircraft fabrications due
to its high mechanical properties (Colombo et al., 2012; REINFORCEDplastics, 2007). The fibre is
manufactured by melting basalt rocks at high temperatures of around 1400℃ and extruding it
into thin fibers of about 10-20μ-m diameter (Banibayat & Patnaik, 2014; Fiore et al., 2011a).It

7
possesses a high modulus of elasticity, failure resistance, temperature resistance, high strength,
high chemical stability, and better strain to failure, and on the environmental front, it is non-
toxic and eco-friendly(Fiore et al., 2011b; Larrinaga et al., 2014; Lopresto et al., 2011; Wei et
al., 2011). It is the preferred reinforcement material in composite fabrication due to its
lightweight and high load-bearing properties. Basalt rocks contain some trace elements, and
their chemical composition varies from region to region (Banibayat & Patnaik, 2014; Liu et al.,
2022). The main disadvantage of basalt is its reduced flow properties. Although we have many
organic and inorganic fibers available in the market, many of them lack in their mechanical
properties such as structural strength or durability and are also expensive when used for
moderate loadings(Dhand et al., 2015). The tensile and compressive properties of basalt are far
better than the fibers of E-glass & are also cheaper(Belingardi et al., 2006; Carmisciano et al., 2011;
Szabó & Czigány, 2003). Basalt fibers also possess excellent elastic modulus. Hence, basalt fibers
are often preferred as a reinforcement material for composite fabrication based on their
numerous advantages. Moreover, the fabrication of basalt-epoxy composites is beneficial as it
can also offer lightweight and strong load-bearing properties useful in defense & automobile
industries. Although we have many natural fibers like E-glass and carbon fibers, basalt fiber
possesses better tensile strength than E-glass fibers and has greater failure strain than carbon
fibers and they do not decompose at very high temperatures and are chemically inert.

Fillers are often used to enhance the properties of the composite. Waseem Baig et al. (Baig &
Mushtaq, 2020) in their study involving “tamarind shell fiber reinforced epoxy composite
laminates”, reported improvement in the tensile test for 70% tamarind shell fiber reinforced
epoxy composite laminates. It was also evident that varying the proportion of the filler can
actually affect the mechanical properties, in the same paper 50% tamarind shell fiber reinforced
epoxy composites showed the maximum flexural strength over 70% shell fiber. Similarly, T.
Ganapathy et al. (Ganapathy et al., 2021) in their study reported advancement in mechanical
properties such as tensile and flexural strength up to a certain proportion by using graphene as
the filler on banyan aerial root fibers reinforced epoxy composites. Although synthetic fillers
have proven to be useful to act as a filler, many researchers are resorting to using natural fillers
such as eggshells, coconut shells, date seeds, etc. as they are eco-friendly and biodegradable.
Moreover, they have shown remarkable results in mechanical properties too. The filler we have
chosen here is amla seed powder. Amla is a common fruit found widely across India. It is
appreciably available in the market between October and February. In fact, it is also considered
a powerhouse of nutrients because of which it is being widely used for medicinal purposes. It

8
 has been observed that after the extraction of amla fruit for various purposes, about 25% of the
juice is lost to the pomace which also includes the amla seed powder. The amla seed powder
is considered a good source of fiber, moisture, and cellulose content(Gupta et al., 2021). There
are different ways to disperse filler particles such as ultrasonic mixing, shear mixing, direct
mixing, and magnetic stirring. After grinding the amla seed powder in the ball mill we made
sure to uniformly disperse the powders to avoid it from being agglomerated. Suhas Yeshwant
Nayak et al. (Nayak et al., 2022) in their study involving “Coconut Shell Powder Modified
Epoxy/3D E-Glass Composite” adopted the ultrasonic and magnetic stirring method in the
epoxy resin to uniformly disperse the fine coconut shell particles and indicated a significant
improvement in the mechanical properties of the composites. Although we have many natural
binders like wax, natural gums, linseed oil, etc, we have selected non-biodegradable epoxy as
the binder as it is a slow-curing resin and due to its longer pot life thereby making the
fabrication process easy. In our project, the uniform dispersion of the amla seed powder in the
epoxy resin is brought about by the sonication technique followed by magnetic stirring. Further,
the composites were fabricated using the hand layup method followed by compression
molding.

This paper discusses the effect of epoxy/basalt fiber composites filled with amla seed coating
as the filler material and investigates the effect on the mechanical properties of the composites.
The epoxy resin is modified by the addition of amla seed powder in different weight
percentages, where sample ASCP0 is for 0% filler material only consisting of basalt and epoxy,
ASCP2 is for 2% filler, ASCP4 is for 4% filler and ASCP6 is for 6% filler. To understand the
effect of the resin modification on the mechanical properties, the flexural, tensile , and impact
strengths were evaluated.

Serial Number Composite Name Proportions of ASCP

1 ASCP0 0%

2 ASCP2 2%

3 ASCP4 4%

4 ASCP6 6%

Table 1: Composite name as per proportions of ASCP

9
 Chapter 2

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

 In the paper “A short review on basalt fiber reinforced polymer composites” by Vivek
Dhand, the mechanical characteristics of basalt as a fiber has been elaborated. In his
paper, he has clearly investigated the mechanical properties of basalt fiber such as
Tensile strength, elastic modulus, elongation at break, and density. As per his analysis,
the mechanical properties have been appreciable with a maximum tensile strength of
4.84GPa, a maximum elastic modulus of 89Gpa, and a maximum elongation at a break
of 3.15% & maximum density to be 2.7g/cm3. It is very clear in this paper that basalt
possesses high mechanical properties.

 Waseem Baig et al. in their study involving “tamarind shell fiber reinforced epoxy
composite laminates”, reported improvement in the tensile test for 70% tamarind shell
fiber reinforced epoxy composite laminates. It was also evident that varying the
proportion of the filler can actually affect the mechanical properties, in the same paper
50% tamarind shell fiber reinforced epoxy composites showed the maximum flexural
strength over 70% shell fiber.

 Similarly, T. Ganapathy et al. in their study reported advancement in mechanical

properties such as tensile and flexural strength up to a certain proportion by using
graphene as the filler on banyan aerial root fibers reinforced epoxy composites.

 Gupta V et.al in their study of isolation and characterization of cellulose nanocrystals

from amla analyzed the amla seed powder as a good source of fiber, moisture, and
cellulose content. It has been observed that after the extraction of amla fruit for various
purposes, about 25% of the juice is lost to the pomace which also includes the amla
seed powder.

10
 In the paper “Static and fatigue characterization of new basalt fibre reinforced
composites” by C. Colombo, L. Vergani, M. Burman, the static and fatigue
characterization of the mechanical and thermal properties of the basalt fibre reinforced
composites was performed. Two kinds of matrices were taken into account, vinyl ester
and epoxy. Tensile and compression static tests, delamination tests and fatigue tests
were carried out. Basalt-reinforced epoxy composites evidenced higher mechanical
properties with respect to vinyl ester, both in the tensile and compressive behavior, and
the failure mode is more compact since fibres do not tend to explode. Thermally
monitored tests were presented, both static and stepwise for the basalt–epoxy
composite. From the static trend it was possible to detect the stress level at the end of
thermoelasticity, while from stepwise thermal analysis two techniques, thermal and
energetic were considered to monitor variations in the composite behavior.

 V. Lopresto, C. Leone, I. De Iorio in their study on “Mechanical characterisation of

basalt fibre reinforced plastic”, the principal aim was evaluating the possibility to
replace glass fibres in most of the applications, mechanical tests were carried out on
comparable E-glass and basalt fibre reinforced plastic laminates. The results obtained
on the two laminates were compared showing a high performance of the basalt
composite which showed about 35–42% higher Young’s modulus as well as a better
compressive strength and flexural behavior, whereas a higher tensile strength was found
for glass material.

 In the paper “Investigation of the effect of surface modifications on the mechanical

properties of basalt fibre reinforced polymer composites” by V. Manikandan, J.T.
Winowlin Jappes, S.M. Suresh Kumar, P. Amuthakkannan, Unsaturated polyester-
based polymer composites were developed by reinforcing basalt fabric into an
unsaturated polyester matrix using the hand layup technique at room temperature. The
basalt fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites both with and without acid and
alkali treatments of the fabrics. The objective of this investigation was to study the
effect of surface modifications (NaOH & H2SO4) on mechanical properties, including
tensile, shear, and impact strengths. Overall, the study showed that the reinforcement
of basalt fibre composites created a new material with properties that are generally

11
 superior to glass fibre-reinforced polymer composites, depending on the loading
conditions.

 In the paper “Hybridization effect on mechanical properties of basalt/12evlar/epoxy

composite laminates” by R. Velumayil and A. Palanivel, conducted the study on the
mechanical properties of 12evlar/epoxy, basalt/epoxy, and basalt/12evlar/epoxy hybrid
composites consisting of seven layers. The six samples of the hybrid composites were
stacked in different orders, naming them S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, and S6. The tensile strength
of the basalt/12evlar/epoxy hybrid composite (S1) was the highest at 190.02 Mpa.
While basalt/epoxy composite was 21% higher than that of 12evlar/epoxy composite,
this is due to the higher density of basalt fibers when compared to 12evlar fibers. The
flexural strength depended on how the layers were stacked, the basalt/epoxy composite
(S7) showed the maximum flexural strength of 110 Mpa. Hence states that the bonding
of the matrix was better with basalt fiber. The impact test revealed that the hybrid
composite containing alternatively stacked basalt fibers sandwiching 12evlar fibers
(S1), absorbed the maximum impact energy of 8.3J.

12
 Chapter 3

3.0 OBJECTIVES

1. To determine the optimum filler proportion (Indian gooseberry seed coating) for the
highest mechanical strength for basalt fiber and epoxy-reinforced composites.
2. To determine the chemical characteristics of the filler material.
3. To study the failure mechanisms of the tested samples using the Scanning Electron
Microscope.

13
 3.1 METHODOLOGY

Fig 1: Fabrication flow diagram

1. Drying amla seed coating: The amla seed coat were dried by getting rid of the
moisture in a hot air oven until no significant change in the weight was observed
(fig 1). Drying was done multiple times at a temperature of 70-100℃ over a period
of time to obtain the dried seed coat powder (fig 2).

Fig 3: Dried amla seed coat

Fig 2: Hot Air Oven
powder

14
 2. Powdering dried seed coating: Grinding of the amla seed coat was done in the ball
grinder (fig 3) for 20 minutes in four passes until fine powder was formed. Followed
by, sieving the powdered amla seed coat in a 180-micron and 45-micron sieve (fig 4)
to obtain finer powder (fig 5).

Fig 5: Sieving the Fig 6: Finely powdered amla seed

Fig 4: Ball grinder
amla seed coat coat powder
powder.

3. Chemical characterization of ASCP:

Gravimetry: Chemical constituents of ASCP were analyzed using gravimetric
analysis. Quantitative determination of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin was
conducted through Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF), and
Acid Detergent Lignin (ADL) procedures. The NDF value provided information
about the content of hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, and minerals in the powder
(NDF = Hemicellulose + Cellulose + Lignin + Minerals). Similarly, ADF value
represented the combined content of cellulose, lignin, and minerals (ADF = Cellulose
+ Lignin + Minerals). Hemicellulose content was estimated by subtracting ADF from
NDF (Hemicellulose = NDF - ADF). Cellulose content was estimated using the
equation Cellulose = ADF - ADL (prior to subjecting the residue to a Muffle furnace),
and lignin content was determined as ADL (after subjecting the residue to the Muffle
furnace)

15
 Fig 7: Refluxing of the solution Fig 8: Filtering using vacuum

Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR): In addition, an analysis of

the ASCP was conducted to identify specific functional groups present in the sample.
This analysis aimed to qualitatively assess the presence of cellulose, hemicellulose,
lignin, and other components within the ASCP based on the identified functional
groups.

4. Basalt treatment: The basalt fiber of 380GSM was first cut into sheets of
290x210mm². Treatment of the sheets was done with 69% concentrated nitric acid
solution for 30 minutes, followed by completely drying them in a hot air oven at
110℃ for 4 hours (fig 6).

Fig 9: Treatment of Basalt Fiber

16
5. Fabricating panels: A single panel was made of 12 plies. At first, the resin was
modified by dispersing the ASCP into it thereby mixing it uniformly by using the
magnetic stirrer for 20 minutes at 300 rpm and 80℃, after which sonication was
carried out for 15 minutes. Further the hardener was added to the resin-ASCP mixture
(where the ratio of epoxy to hardener was fixed to 10:1) just before carrying out the
hand-layup method. Later compression moulding was done and the panel was left for
24 hours for curing. The panels were compressed to a thickness of 2.5mm using
precisely machined spacers. This way, panels were fabricated with no filler, 2%, 4%
& 6% filler (fig 7 and fig 8).

Fig 10: Fabrication Fig 11: Fabrication

using hand-layup

6. Preparing specimen as per ASTM/ISO standard: CAD diagram was drawn for
each test as per ASTM/ISO standards to carry out abrasive waterjet cutting of the
panels (fig 9) for further carrying out the respective mechanical test on the specimens
(fig 10).

Fig 12: Abrasive Water-Jet Cutting Fig 13: Cut out of the samples.

17
 7. Mechanical Testing: The respective specimen samples were tested for Flexural,
Impact, and Tensile strength respectively as shown in fig 11, fig 12, and fig13. The
tensile test was conducted as per ASTM D3039 standard with a constant rate of
loading of 5 mm/min. The specimen size was 250mm x 25mm. The flexural test was
conducted as per ASTM D7264 standard with specimen dimensions 96mm x 13mm
x 2.5mm with a span length of 56mm and the rate of loading was set as 1 mm/min.
The impact test was conducted as per ISO 179/1fU standard with specimen
dimension of 80mm x 10mm x 2.5mm. Three specimens were tested for each of the
above tests.

Fig 14: Flexural Testing Fig 15: Impact Fig 16: Tensile Testing
Testing

8. Failure Analysis: The SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) analysis was carried
out on the flexural samples of ASCP composites to determine the mode of failure in
the composite material. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) (Make –Zeiss; Model
–EVO 18 Special Edition) was used. ASCP was coated with gold using ion
sputtering. Such coating makes the specimen conductive and also avoids charging of
the specimen due to its prolonged exposure to the electron beam.

18
 Chapter 4

4.0 RESULTS

4.1 Flexural strength

The flexural strength of the ASCP composites is demonstrated in Fig. The results follow an
increasing trend until ASCP4 and then decrease. Analysis of the obtained result indicates that
the inclusion of amla seed coat as filler has increased the flexural strength of the ASCP
composites. Analysis of the results indicates that ASCP4 composites have the highest flexural
strength of 357 MPa in comparison with the no-filler ASCP0 composite which has a flexural
strength of 99.53 MPa. The evolution of the highest strength of ASCP4 composites indicates
that at 4 wt% inclusion of the amla seed coat powder, we obtain an optimum and uniform
dispersion of the 4% filler (ASCP4) which is 258.68% higher than the no filler composite
(ASCP0) within the matrix allowing enough fortification to the brittle epoxy matrix.

The flexural modulus increased by about 45% for the 2% ASCP composite when compared to
the no-filler composite. The 4% and the 6% ASCP composite when compared to ASCP0 (no
filler composite), the flexural modulus increased by 42% for both 2% and 6% ASCP
composites. The composite with 2% ASCP (ASCP2) exhibited the highest flexural modulus,
measuring 19.53 GPa. It appears that the addition of ASCP has a significant impact on
increasing the flexural modulus of the composite material. The highest modulus was achieved
with the addition of 2% ASCP.

19
 500
Flexural Strength
450 Flexural Modulus 19.93 19.46 19.53 20

400 357
15

Flexural Modulus (Gpa)

Flexural Strength (Mpa) 350
13.76

300 277.67 265.67 10

250
5
200

150 0
99.53
100
−5
50

0 −10
ASCP0 ASCP2 ASCP4 ASCP6
Types of Composites

Fig 17: Flexural Strength

4.2 Impact strength

The composite containing 6% of amla seed coat powder (ASCP6 composite) exhibited the
highest impact strength, capable of absorbing approximately 210.27 kJ/m2 of energy. In
comparison to the ASCP0 composite without any filler, which absorbed around 132.71 kJ/m2,
the energy absorption increased by approximately 60%. Similarly, ASCP2 absorbed about 200
kJ/m2 of energy, resulting in a 50% increase compared to the ASCP0 composites. The 4%
addition of the ASCP in the composite, which is ASCP4 absorbed about 191.5 kJ/m2 of energy
which increased by a percentage of about 45% when compared to ASCP0. ASCP4 had a slight
difference in energy absorbed value compared to ASCP2. The optimum strength was obtained
for ASCP6 and there was not much difference between the values of ASCP2, ASCP4, and
ASCP6. Impact testing encompasses the evaluation of two distinct forms of energy. The first
form of energy is known as Initial energy, which represents the energy present at the precise
moment of impact. The second type of energy is the transmitted energy, once the initial energy
is imparted to the material, it gets transmitted and dispersed throughout the composite material
in various ways. This transmitted energy can be conceived further and undergo different

20
transformations within the composite material. The transmitted energy may cause the
composite to fail completely, and also this energy can lead to delamination, which is the
separation of layers within the composite and can also result in the breakage of individual fibers
within the composite. The resin in the composite can absorb and distribute some of the impact
energy. Specifically, the ASCP particles within the composite can contribute to absorbing the
impact energy. Increasing the concentration of ASCP particles in the composite leads to higher
measured strengths. The use of a fabric that allows embedding in three dimensions increases
the volume available for ASCP particle inclusion. The increased volume available for
embedding ASCP particles leads to a larger fraction of impact energy being dissipated by
overcoming fiber-to-fiber friction. In the case of ASCP6 (a specific concentration of amla seed
coat powder), a considerable portion of the impact energy is utilized in frictional interactions
between fibers, rather than resulting in complete failure of the composite panel.

250
Impact Strength
199.31667 210.27

191.49333
200
Impact Strength (kJ/m²)

132.70667
150

100

50

0
ASCP0 ASCP2 ASCP4 ASCP6
Types of Composites

Fig 18: Impact Strength

21
4.3 Tensile strength

The graph illustrates the impact of incorporating varying proportions of ASCP on the tensile
strength of composites. The results clearly demonstrate a positive correlation between the
addition of ASCP and the tensile strength of the composites. When 2% ASCP (ASCP2
Composite) was added, the tensile strength increased to 224.74 MPa, representing a significant
28% improvement compared to the composite without any filler (ASCP0). Subsequently, the
inclusion of 4% ASCP (ASCP4 Composite) resulted in a further 10% enhancement in tensile
strength compared to the ASCP2 composite and a remarkable 41% increase compared to the
composite without filler (ASCP0). The ASCP4 composite achieved the highest tensile strength
recorded at 247.58 MPa. With a 6% addition of the amla seed coat powder (ASCP6
Composite), the tensile strength decreased to 236.87 MPa which is about 5% lesser than the
ASCP4 composite when compared to ASCP4 And when compared with ASCP0, the tensile
strength increased by about 35%. The peak performance of the composite was obtained
between ASCP2 and ASCP6 which was for ASCP4, hence the results show that a 4% addition
of ASCP had a significant increase in the tensile strength of the composite, and optimum
strength was obtained for the same.

Fig 19: Tensile Strength

22
4.4 Chemical Characterization of ASCP

4.4.1 Gravimetric Analysis

Based on the gravimetric analysis results, it was determined that the ASCP contained cellulose
within the range of 40 to 43%, hemicellulose within the range of 1 to 2%, and lignin within the
range of 50 to 52%. The presence of cellulose in the powder contributes to effectively
facilitating stress transfer between the matrix and the fibers and thereby increasing the
composites load bearing capacity. The high lignin content in ASCP plays a crucial role in the
interfacial adhesion of the fibers and matrix material to form strong bonds and also assists in
bearing a portion of the load exerted on the composites due to its high strength and stiffness.
Lignin also has hydrophobic properties which help the composite material to be moisture
resistant.

4.4.2 Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR)

Fig 20: The FTIR spectroscopy of ASCP

23
The FTIR spectroscopy provides valuable information about the functional groups, chemical
composition, molecular structure, and quality of a sample is shown in the table below. After
conducting FTIR analysis, the region between 1243 and 788 cm-1 shows the presence of
cellulose and lignin. The region between 3337 and 1732 shows the presence of hemicellulose
and is characterized by the recurrence of peaks repeatedly over the span of the FTIR
spectroscopy. It is a vital and indispensable component found in all naturally derived, plant-
based reinforcements.

Table 2: Composition of the sample

Compounds Symbol Wavenumber (cm- References

1)

Hydroxyl group of N–H stretch O– 3337 (El Mansouri &

cellulose, H stretch, H– Salvadó, 2007; Santos
hemicellulose, and bonded et al., 2015; Sun et al.,
waxes Phenolic and 2012)
Aliphatic and
hydroxyl groups of
lignin
Carbonyl ester and C=O stretch 1732 (05_Norazelina (19),
carboxyl of n.d.; Yang et al., 2007)
carboxylic acid of
hemicellulose
Carbonyl aldehyde
or ketone, and
carboxyl of
carboxylic acid of
lignin Carboxyl ester
of pectin and
carbonyl ester of
waxes
Alcohol groups of C–N stretch 1243 (Szymanska-Chargot
cellulose C–O stretch & Zdunek, 2013; Yang
Aliphatic alcohols C–H wag (–CHX) et al., 2007)
and ethers of lignin
Pectin
Alcohol groups of C–O stretchC– 1031 (Szymanska-Chargot
cellulose N stretch & Zdunek, 2013; Yang
Aliphatic alcohols et al., 2007)
and ethers of lignin
Pectin
Aromatic hydrogen C–H “oop”N– 891 (Santos et al., 2015;
of lignin H wag Yang et al., 2007)
=C–H bend

24
 Aromatic hydrogen C–CI stretch 788 (Santos et al., 2015;
of lignin C–H “oop” Yang et al., 2007)
N–H wag
=C–H bend
Aromatic hydrogen –C≡C– H: C–H bend 700 (Santos et al., 2015;
of lignin C–CI stretch C– Yang et al., 2007)
H “oop”
N–H wag
=C–H bend

4.5 Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)

Fig 21a: SEM micrographs of ASCP2 Fig 21b: SEM micrographs of ASCP2

Fig 21c: SEM micrographs of ASCP2

In the SEM images of ASCP2 composite with a 2% filler material, several observations can be
made. In Figures 21 a and 21 b, crack propagation, voids, and snapped fibers are visible. These
features indicate the presence of structural weaknesses and discontinuities within the composite
material. Cracks can occur due to stress concentration or insufficient bonding between the filler

25
and the matrix. Voids and snapped fibers suggest poor interfacial adhesion and inadequate
reinforcement. Furthermore, in Figure 21 c, the ASCP deposition appears scattered, indicating
a lack of uniformity in the distribution of the filler material. This non-uniform deposition may
contribute to the observed failure by leading to areas of weak bonding and reduced load-bearing
capacity.

The presence of crack propagation, voids, snapped fibers, and scattered deposition in the SEM
images collectively suggests that the ASCP2 composite with a 2% filler content experienced
mechanical failure. These observations highlight the importance of optimizing the filler
distribution and enhancing interfacial bonding to improve the overall performance and
durability of the composite material.

Fig 22a: SEM micrographs of ASCP4 Fig 22b: SEM micrographs of ASCP4

In the SEM images of ASCP4 composite with a 4% filler material, several observations can be
made. Firstly, it can be observed that in Figure 22a, the ASCP deposition is uniform, indicating
a consistent and well-distributed filler throughout the composite. This uniform deposition
suggests that the 4% filler content may be the optimum percentage for achieving good filler
dispersion and interfacial bonding within the composite matrix. However, despite the uniform
deposition, there are indications of failure in the composite. Delamination can be seen, which
refers to the separation or splitting of layers within the composite structure. Delamination can
occur due to insufficient bonding between layers or stresses imposed on the material during
loading Additionally, snapped fibers are observed, which indicates that some of the fibers

26
within the composite have fractured or broken under stress. This fracture of fibers can weaken
the overall structural integrity of the composite.

Furthermore, the detachment of the binder yarn can be seen in Figure 22 b. This detachment
may have occurred due to the failure and mechanical stresses experienced by the composite
during the flexural testing or fabrication process. Moreover, fiber pull-out is noticeable, which
refers to the phenomenon where individual fibers are pulled out from the matrix material. Fiber
pull-out can occur when the adhesion between the fibers and the matrix is not strong enough
to resist external forces, resulting in fiber detachment.

Fig 23a: SEM micrographs of ASCP6 Fig 23b: SEM micrographs of ASCP6

In the SEM images of ASCP6 composite with 6% filler material, various observations can be
made. Figure 23a shows that the ASCP deposition is minimal and scattered, indicating a
suboptimal distribution of the filler material within the composite matrix. This non-uniform
deposition can result in weak bonding and reduced load-bearing capacity. Figure 23b reveals
several signs of failure within the composite specimen. Delamination, characterized by the
separation or splitting of layers within the composite, is evident. This delamination can occur
due to inadequate bonding between layers or the application of excessive stress during loading.

Fiber pull-out is also noticeable in Figure 23b, where individual fibers are seen to be partially
pulled out from the matrix material. Fiber pull-out indicates weak interfacial adhesion between
the fibers and the matrix, leading to reduced mechanical strength. Furthermore, crack
propagation is observed, which signifies the development and extension of cracks within the
composite. These cracks can arise due to various factors, including stress concentration and

27
inadequate reinforcement. Snapped fibers can also be seen in Figure 23b, indicating that some
fibers within the composite have fractured or broken under stress. This can weaken the overall
structural integrity of the composite.

28
 Chapter 5

5.0 Conclusion and Scope for future work

Composites were manufactured by incorporating different proportions of Amla Seed Coat

Powder (ASCP) into the resin. The ASCP was introduced into the resin through a combination
of magnetic stirring and sonication. The findings clearly demonstrated a significant
enhancement in the mechanical properties of the composites. The composite containing 4%
ASCP exhibited the highest tensile strength at 247.58 MPa, as well as a flexural strength of
357 MPa. Furthermore, the composite with 6% ASCP displayed an impressive impact strength
of 210.27 kJ/m2. In contrast, the composites without ASCP exhibited the lowest tensile
strength at 175.76 MPa, flexural strength at 99.53 MPa, and impact strength at 132.7 kJ/m2.
The presence of Lignin content which was found using FTIR and gravimetric analysis proved
that it made the composite bind stronger and increased the load-bearing capacity. The SEM
micrographs of the failed specimen revealed that the primary modes of failure were
delamination, fiber breakage, fiber pull-out, and shearing of the fabric.

Scope for future work

The composite thus formed can be used by various industries as described below:

Civil construction: Composite developed can be used to build structural elements such as
columns, beams, and reinforcement bars. Elements thus developed will possess high corrosion
resistance, durability, and strength while having low weight when compared to traditional
building materials.

Automobile: Using this composite we can build body panels, interior elements, and vehicle
chassis that are light in weight while having very good mechanical properties.

Aerospace: The composite that has been developed can be used to build interior components
of aircraft and structural elements. This is made possible due to the non-corrosive, lightweight,
and high strength of the composite.

29
Sports and Recreation: The composite can be used to develop lightweight racquets, bats, and
protective types of equipment that would help in improving the performance of the players.
The improved performance obtained by using this composite is also due to its high strength
and vibration-damping properties.

Marine Equipment: Since the composite developed is chemically inert, it is not affected by
salt and other chemicals in the seawater. Thus, it helps one to develop vessel hulls, offshore
platforms, and submersible components.

More research and development are required to increase the acceptance of this component by
making it cost-effective, mass producible and to meet strict quality parameters.

This can be brought about by close collaboration among material scientists, design engineers,
and industry leaders.

30
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manufactured by wet-layup method Banibayat P, Patnaik AMaterials and Design
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9. Glass-basalt/epoxy hybrid composites for marine applications Fiore V, Di Bella G,
Valenza A
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De Iorio I
11. Experimental and numerical modeling of basalt textile reinforced mortar
behavior under uniaxial tensile stress Larrinaga P, Chastre C
12. Degradation of basalt fibre and glass fibre/epoxy resin composites in seawaterWei
B, Cao H, Song S
13. A Review on Basalt Fiber Composites and Their Applications in Clean Energy
Sector and Power Grids Liu H, Yu Y
14. A short review on basalt fiber reinforced polymer composites Dhand V, Mittal G
15. Basalt woven fiber reinforced vinylester composites: Flexural and electrical
properties Carmisciano S, Rosa I
16. Vacuum infusion of a composite E-glass vinylester laminate for nautical
application: Experimental response to repeated impacts Belingardi G, Cavatorta M,
Paolino D
17. Static fracture and failure behavior of aligned discontinuous mineral fiber
reinforced polypropylene composites Szabó J, Czigány T
18. Investigation of mechanical properties and water absorption behaviour on
tamarind shell fiber - Reinforced epoxy composite laminates Baig W, Mushtaq M
19. Effect of Graphene Powder on Banyan Aerial Root Fibers Reinforced Epoxy
Composites Ganapathy T, Sathiskumar R
20. Isolation and characterization of cellulose nanocrystals from amla (Phyllanthus
emblica) pomace Gupta V, Ramakanth D
21. Experimental Investigation into Mechanical Properties of Coconut Shell Powder
Modified Epoxy/3D E-Glass Composites Nayak S, Shenoy S

31
22. Natural fiber reinforced composites: Sustainable materials for emerging
applications Khalid M, Al Rashid A
23. Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites: history, types, advantages, and
applications K, Kona N
24. Toddy palm (Borassus Flabellifer) fruit fibre bundles as reinforcement in polylactide
(PLA) composites: An overview about fibre and composite characteristics Graupner
N, Narkpiban K
25. Evaluating lignin-rich residues from biochemical ethanol production of wheat straw
and olive tree pruning by FTIR and 2d-nmr Santos J
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under uniaxial tensile stress Larrinaga P, Chastre C
27. Infrared and Raman spectroscopic features of plant cuticles: A review Heredia-Guerrero
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32
In our report, it is imperative to address the key aspects of environment, safety, and ethics. Environmental
considerations play a crucial role as we strive to develop sustainable solutions. We need to evaluate the life
cycle of the composite materials, including the sourcing of raw materials, manufacturing processes, and end-
of-life disposal options to minimize environmental impact. Safety is of paramount importance as we ensure
that the composite materials meet or exceed safety standards, particularly regarding handling, usage, and
potential hazards. Lastly, ethical considerations encompass fair labor practices, responsible sourcing, and
adherence to ethical guidelines throughout the supply chain. By addressing these aspects, we aim to create
composite materials that are not only technically superior but also align with the principles of environmental
sustainability, safety, and ethical responsibility.

Tentative Cost

Item Name Cost in Rupees

Basalt Fiber 10,000
Epoxy 2,500
Amla Fruit 1,000
Mechanical Testing 8,000
Miscellaneous Cost 500
Total 22,000

33
AMLA PLAGIARISM REPORT
ORIGINALITY REPORT

14 %
SIMILARITY INDEX
11%
INTERNET SOURCES
10%
PUBLICATIONS
3%
STUDENT PAPERS

PRIMARY SOURCES

1
www.espublisher.com
Internet Source
3%
2
www.researchgate.net
Internet Source
1%
3
nie.ac.in
Internet Source
1%
4 Elammaran Jayamani, Ting Goa Loong,
Muhammad Khusairy Bin Bakri. "Comparative
1%
study of Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of natural fibres
treated with chemical, physical and biological
methods", Polymer Bulletin, 2019
Publication

5
moscow.sci-hub.se
Internet Source
1%
6 Submitted to Swinburne University of
Technology
1%
Student Paper

7 Saptarshi Maiti, Md Rashedul Islam,

Mohammad Abbas Uddin, Shaila Afroj,
1%