Evaluation of thermal stability and decomposition behaviour of sustainable natural fibre composites for unmanned aerial vehicle

The increasing demand for lightweight, high-strength materials in the aerospace and automotive industries has led to extensive research into sustainable alternatives to conventional composites. This research addresses the pressing need for environmentally friendly materials by investigating the potential of natural fibre-reinforced composites, specifically those using Pongamia Pinnata, Lannea Coromandelica, and Bauhinia Variegata fibres. The significant problem recognized in existing natural fibre composites is high degradation due to thermal loads and low mechanical properties making them unsuitable for critical applications such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and automotive components. The objective of this investigation is to enhance a sustainable composite material that is not limited to environmental benefits of natural fibres but also satisfies mechanical and thermal behaviours for UAV and automotive applications. This research focuses on improving the thermal stability, mechanical behaviour, and overall performance of different bio fibre composites by adopting chemical treatments and testing of different combinations of composites. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) are conducted to validate the thermal integrity and degradation behaviour and structural analysis is conducted to analyse the characteristics of deformation, strain, stress, and energy absorption. Pongamia Pinnatta (PP1) and Pongamia Pinnata + Lannea Coromandelica + Bauhinia Variegata (PPLCBV6) samples exhibit high thermal stability (7.78 and 8.18 mW min −1 ) and mechanical behaviour, so they are suitable for lightweight, heat-resistant UAV parts. Incase of Lannea Coromandelica + Bauhinia Variegata (LCBV5) and Pongamia Pinnata + Bauhinia Variegata (PPBV4) samples possess higher energy, temperature absorption (613.4 and 624.4 °C) and durability, so they are suitable alternatives for automobile components.