Optimized Bombax ceiba/jute hybrid epoxy composites for enhanced thermal insulation performance

Authors

• Shadman Ahmed Khan, Bangladesh University of Business and Technology
• Naeem Ahmmed, Bangladesh University of Business and Technology
• Md Tanvir Hossain, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
• Abdullah Ibn Asheque, Bangladesh University of Business and Technology
• Md Ariful Islam, Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology, Gazipur
• Md Abdul Kader, Bangladesh University of Business and Technology
• Md Sohel Rana, Bangladesh University of Business and Technology
• Sakib Masud, Bangladesh University of Business and Technology

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-29-2026

Department

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Abstract

The development of sustainable hybrid natural-fiber composites provides a practical way toward lightweight materials with tailored mechanical and thermal performance. In this study, Bombax ceiba (BC)/jute hybrid epoxy composites were fabricated using a stacked preform followed by compression molding, and the effect of fiber blending ratio on mechanical, thermal, and microstructural properties was systematically investigated. Three compositions-40/60, 50/50, and 60/40 BC/jute by weight-were evaluated. Mechanical testing showed that the J50 composite, with a balanced fiber ratio, exhibited superior flexural strength and impact resistance, indicating effective hybrid synergy and improved stress transfer between fibers and the matrix. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that hybrid systems exhibit varying thermal stability, characterized by distinct degradation stages linked to moisture evaporation, cellulose decomposition, and char formation. Steady-state thermal measurements demonstrated a non-linear dependence on fiber ratio; the J50 composite achieved the lowest thermal conductivity (0.044 ± 0.001 85 W · m⁻¹ · K⁻¹) and the highest thermal resistance (0.0916 ± 0.001 20 m² · K · W⁻¹), highlighting its potential for thermal insulation applications. Fractographic analysis using scanning electron microscopy correlated the observed mechanical behavior with fiber pullout, fracture, and interfacial bonding characteristics. Overall, this study demonstrates that the hybridization of BC with jute fibers allows for the development of sustainable epoxy composites exhibiting balanced mechanical integrity and significantly enhanced thermal insulation, making them highly suitable for building envelopes and thermal insulation applications.

Publisher's Statement

© 2026 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ae62e2

Publication Title

Materials Research Express

Recommended Citation

Khan, S., Ahmmed, N., Hossain, M., Asheque, A., Islam, M., Kader, M., Rana, M., & Masud, S. (2026). Optimized Bombax ceiba/jute hybrid epoxy composites for enhanced thermal insulation performance. Materials Research Express, 13(9). http://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ae62e2
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p2/2646

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Version

Publisher's PDF