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Different countries are working to reduce their dependency from petroleum-based products and encouraging use of recyclable and natural resources. Therefore, research on natural fibre reinforced composites has picked up the pace (Faruk et al., 2014 and Pickering et al., 2016). Plant based natural fibers are important alternatives to synthetic fibers as it reduces the greenhouse gas emissions and has the properties like tensile strength and impact strength among other properties comparable with synthetic fibers as reviewed by Sanjay et al (Sanjay et al., 2018). Natural fibers, due to its low weight, less density, low cost, high specific strength and reducing environmental effects as compared to glass fibers are an attractive option for automobile applications as observed by Prasad et al (Guduru et al., 2019). A review paper presented by Holbery and Houston on natural-fibre-Reinforced polymer composites in automotive applications suggested that these types of composite materials can be used in manufacturing of dashboards, headlines, door panels, package tray and interior parts (Holbery & Houston, 2006).Natural fibre composites have some limitations like poor bonding between fibre and matrix, high moisture absorption etc (Li et al. 2007). An investigation made by Wetzel et al on epoxy nano-composites with high mechanical and tribological performances concluded that reinforcement of both nano particles and micro particles is able to improve the wear resistance of the epoxy matrix (Wetzel et al., 2003).
Experiment carried out by Archarya et al on surface treated sugarcane bagasse composite concluded that the flexural strength of the composite increases by increasing the wt. % of sugarcane fibre until proper fibre matrix bonding is achieved (Acharya et al. 2011). Reddy et al investigated the effect of adding sugarcane powder in glass fibre epoxy composite material and from the experimental results, they deduced that flexural strength of the composite material increases by adding up to 25 wt. % of sugarcane powder (Reddy et al. 2020).
Recently, Nanoparticles have gained substantial importance as fillers in composites. Among various nanoparticle reinforcements, CNTs are considered as potential fillers for the composites to improve their mechanical, electrical and thermal properties as concluded by Sreeja et al. However, Interfacial bonding and dispersion play important role in achieving this improvement in properties (K.Pillai & Sinha, 2011). The mechanical properties of epoxy-nano-composites are increased as filler-matrix adhesion is improved. After studying the influence of strain rate on flexural properties, it was observed that there was linear increase in flexural strength and flexural modulus with the logarithm of strain rate (Papanicolaou et al., 2020). A study has been conducted by researchers to determine the morphology and thermo-physical properties of CNT/epoxy composite using different dispersion techniques like mechanical stirring, hot plate magnetic stirring and sonication. Their experimental results presented the storage modulus associated with each dispersion technique (Prolongo et al., 2008). These interfacial interactions should be strong enough to improve the mechanical properties, especially, as concluded by Gojny et al after conducting various experiments (Gojny et al., 2003).
Prolongo et al. investigated the flexural strength of untreated and treated CNT reinforced epoxy polymer composite. Authors observed from their experimental results that the flexural strength of the composite material increases even for untreated CNT/epoxy composite (Prolongo et al., 2011). Guo et al. investigated the mechanical properties of well-dispersed multi-walled carbon nanotubes / epoxy composite and found out that fracture toughness of the composite material increases by adding multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Guo et al., 2007). Experiment performed by Allaoui et al. on mechanical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes / epoxy composite concluded that the Young’s modulus of the composite material increases by reinforcing MWCNT into the epoxy matrix (Allaoui et al., 2002). Godara et al. conducted various experiments and found out that mechanical properties, except for fracture toughness, showed no considerable improvement after reinforcing CNT in epoxy composite (Godara et al., 2009). Dong et al. investigated the tribological properties of Multi-walled carbon nanotubes/epoxy resin nanocomposite. From the experimental results, they deduced that epoxy resin based composite reinforced with Multi-walled carbon nanotubes has better wear resistance and also reduces the co-efficient of sliding friction (Dong et al., 2005).