Mechanical Evaluation of Different Loading Fractions of Nata de Coco Bacterial Cellulose Reinforced with Epoxy Resin

The use of agricultural by-product fibers as reinforcements in natural-based composites presents a promising approach to addressing the limited availability, high cost, and inconsistent quality of traditional natural fibers such as jute, flax, and hemp. This study evaluates the mechanical properties of Nata de Coco-derived bacterial cellulose reinforced with an epoxy polymer at different loading fractions. The bacterial cellulose was extracted through a fermentation process using Acetobactr xylinum, followed by chemical treatment and incorporation into an epoxy matrix at weight fractions of 1%, 2%, and 3%. The composite samples were subjected to tensile, impact, and hardness testing to assess the effects of bacterial cellulose reinforcement. Experimental results revealed that the inclusion of bacterial cellulose significantly influenced the mechanical performance of the epoxy composites. The highest tensile strength was observed in the 1wt% bacterial cellulose /epoxy composite, surpassing virgin epoxy by 22.73%. However, as the bacterial cellulose content increased beyond 1wt%, tensile strength declined due to poor dispersion and void formation, which weakened the material structure. Young’s modulus was highest for the 2wt% bacterial cellulose /epoxy sample, demonstrating a 77.85% increase compared to virgin epoxy, indicating improved stiffness. Conversely, an increase in BC content led to reduced hardness and impact resistance, making the composite more brittle because the bacterial cellulose particles, likely in the 70-100 nm range, were not fully dispersed in the matrix.