Development of hemp fiber-reinforced epoxy composite with cobalt oxide nanoparticles for fuel cell and energy storage applications

As industries push towards more sustainable and efficient production methods, polymer composites offer significant benefits. This study presents a novel composite material developed by reinforcing Cannabis sativa (hemp) fibers with cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) nanoparticles, varying from 4 to 20 g, in an ep...

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Main Authors: Thandavamoorthy Raja, Yuvarajan Devarajan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Results in Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123024020826
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author Thandavamoorthy Raja
Yuvarajan Devarajan
author_facet Thandavamoorthy Raja
Yuvarajan Devarajan
author_sort Thandavamoorthy Raja
collection DOAJ
description As industries push towards more sustainable and efficient production methods, polymer composites offer significant benefits. This study presents a novel composite material developed by reinforcing Cannabis sativa (hemp) fibers with cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) nanoparticles, varying from 4 to 20 g, in an epoxy matrix. The aim of the study was to improve key properties such as mechanical strength, thermal stability, fatigue resistance, and antibacterial capacity, which are critical for enhancing the efficiency, durability, and safety of energy storage devices. Among five formulations tested, the composite containing 180 g of hemp fiber and 16 g of cobalt oxide in 164 g of epoxy (Sample F4) demonstrated the best performance. It achieved a tensile strength of 79.14 MPa, flexural strength of 81.35 MPa, and fatigue strength of 83.19 MPa after 5000 cycles, significantly improving structural integrity and resilience under mechanical stress. Thermally, Sample F4 exhibited a heat deflection temperature of 127 °C, a 15 % increase compared to the lowest-performing sample, and a thermal conductivity of 34.6 W/mK, ensuring efficient heat dissipation. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed high thermal stability, with Sample F4 retaining 35 % of its mass at 410 °C. Although the antibacterial capacity was 13.7 % lower than the standard agent, it still provided effective protection against oxidative degradation. The novelty of this work lies in the integration of hemp fibers with cobalt oxide nanoparticles, which enhances the mechanical and thermal properties, making it a promising material for energy storage applications, including fuel cell casings, batteries, and supercapacitors.
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spelling doaj-art-3681ff3e399c433ab048766fba5e76062025-08-20T02:50:55ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-03-012510383910.1016/j.rineng.2024.103839Development of hemp fiber-reinforced epoxy composite with cobalt oxide nanoparticles for fuel cell and energy storage applicationsThandavamoorthy Raja0Yuvarajan Devarajan1Materials Science Lab, Department of Prosthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, SIMATS, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamilnadu, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India; Corresponding author.As industries push towards more sustainable and efficient production methods, polymer composites offer significant benefits. This study presents a novel composite material developed by reinforcing Cannabis sativa (hemp) fibers with cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄) nanoparticles, varying from 4 to 20 g, in an epoxy matrix. The aim of the study was to improve key properties such as mechanical strength, thermal stability, fatigue resistance, and antibacterial capacity, which are critical for enhancing the efficiency, durability, and safety of energy storage devices. Among five formulations tested, the composite containing 180 g of hemp fiber and 16 g of cobalt oxide in 164 g of epoxy (Sample F4) demonstrated the best performance. It achieved a tensile strength of 79.14 MPa, flexural strength of 81.35 MPa, and fatigue strength of 83.19 MPa after 5000 cycles, significantly improving structural integrity and resilience under mechanical stress. Thermally, Sample F4 exhibited a heat deflection temperature of 127 °C, a 15 % increase compared to the lowest-performing sample, and a thermal conductivity of 34.6 W/mK, ensuring efficient heat dissipation. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed high thermal stability, with Sample F4 retaining 35 % of its mass at 410 °C. Although the antibacterial capacity was 13.7 % lower than the standard agent, it still provided effective protection against oxidative degradation. The novelty of this work lies in the integration of hemp fibers with cobalt oxide nanoparticles, which enhances the mechanical and thermal properties, making it a promising material for energy storage applications, including fuel cell casings, batteries, and supercapacitors.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123024020826NanoparticlesEnvironmental engineeringEnergy storageRenewableSustainable practices
spellingShingle Thandavamoorthy Raja
Yuvarajan Devarajan
Development of hemp fiber-reinforced epoxy composite with cobalt oxide nanoparticles for fuel cell and energy storage applications
Results in Engineering
Nanoparticles
Environmental engineering
Energy storage
Renewable
Sustainable practices
title Development of hemp fiber-reinforced epoxy composite with cobalt oxide nanoparticles for fuel cell and energy storage applications
title_full Development of hemp fiber-reinforced epoxy composite with cobalt oxide nanoparticles for fuel cell and energy storage applications
title_fullStr Development of hemp fiber-reinforced epoxy composite with cobalt oxide nanoparticles for fuel cell and energy storage applications
title_full_unstemmed Development of hemp fiber-reinforced epoxy composite with cobalt oxide nanoparticles for fuel cell and energy storage applications
title_short Development of hemp fiber-reinforced epoxy composite with cobalt oxide nanoparticles for fuel cell and energy storage applications
title_sort development of hemp fiber reinforced epoxy composite with cobalt oxide nanoparticles for fuel cell and energy storage applications
topic Nanoparticles
Environmental engineering
Energy storage
Renewable
Sustainable practices
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123024020826
work_keys_str_mv AT thandavamoorthyraja developmentofhempfiberreinforcedepoxycompositewithcobaltoxidenanoparticlesforfuelcellandenergystorageapplications
AT yuvarajandevarajan developmentofhempfiberreinforcedepoxycompositewithcobaltoxidenanoparticlesforfuelcellandenergystorageapplications