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Abstract— Areca nut husk fiber, an agricultural by-product, is typically treated as waste and contributes minimally to the economic value of areca nut cultivation. However, its potential use as a reinforcing material in the production of lightweight and cost-effective composites has opened new possibilities for its application. These fiber-reinforced composites offer sustainable and economical alternatives for industries such as construction, marine engineering, automotive, and aerospace. In this study, areca nut husk fibers were extracted through alkali treatment using a 6% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. This process enhances the fiber's compatibility with the composite matrix by removing surface impurities and improving bonding characteristics. Composite panels were fabricated incorporating these fibers at varying weight percentages of 15%, 25%, and 30%. Both fine and coarse fibers were used to evaluate their individual impact on composite performance. The fabricated composites underwent various mechanical tests including tensile, flexural, hardness, and water absorption tests to assess their strength and durability. Additionally, their performance was analyzed under marine water exposure to determine their suitability for real-world environmental conditions. The research highlights the potential of converting agricultural waste into high-value materials while meeting the growing need for affordable, lightweight composites. Results indicated that composite panels reinforced with fine fibers consistently exhibited superior mechanical properties compared to those with coarse fibers. Nevertheless, the coarse fiber (CF) composites displayed excellent overall performance in terms of strength, stiffness, and durability. While a gradual decline in mechanical strength was observed over a 45-day period, the water absorption characteristics remained stable across all fiber types, reflecting good moisture resistance. Among all variants tested, the CF composite showed the most balanced and reliable performance, making it a strong candidate for practical applications in demanding environments.
Keywords:
Areca fiber, Chemical Composition, Marine water absorption, Natural fiber composites, Marine environment performance.
Cite Article:
"Areca Nut Husk Fiber Composites for Marine Use: Mechanical Characterization in Marine water", International Journal of Science & Engineering Development Research (www.ijrti.org), ISSN:2455-2631, Vol.10, Issue 6, page no.a163-a169, June-2025, Available :http://www.ijrti.org/papers/IJRTI2506022.pdf
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ISSN:
2456-3315 | IMPACT FACTOR: 8.14 Calculated By Google Scholar| ESTD YEAR: 2016
An International Scholarly Open Access Journal, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed Journal Impact Factor 8.14 Calculate by Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool, Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Multilanguage Journal Indexing in All Major Database & Metadata, Citation Generator