Mechanical and Dynamic Behavior Analysis of Nanosilica added Saccharum Munja Fiber Epoxy Composite | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Mechanical and Dynamic Behavior Analysis of Nanosilica added Saccharum Munja Fiber Epoxy Composite Savendra Pratap Singh, Chetan Kumar Hirwani This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7354944/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 08 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Silicon → Version 1 posted 13 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This study investigates the mechanical and dynamic behavior of nanosilica-filled Saccharum munja fiber polymer composites. The composites were fabricated with varying nanosilica content (0–5%) and tested for tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness properties. The results show that the addition of nanosilica up to 3% improves the mechanical properties, including tensile strength (250 MPa), flexural strength (220 MPa), impact energy (140 J/m), and hardness (22.5 HRF). The water absorption test reveals that the composite with 3% nanosilica content shows lower water absorption. The thermogravimetric analysis indicates that the nanosilica addition improves the thermal stability of the composite. The free vibration analysis shows that the composite with 3% nanosilica content has higher natural frequency values (25, 144, 326, 520, 888, and 969 Hz) and lower damping factor values (0.060, 0.045, 0.037, 0.036, 0.025, and 0.024). Overall, the study suggests that the Saccharum munja fiber polymer composite with 3% nanosilica content has potential applications in various industries. Saccharum Munja Tensile Hardness Thermal Frequency Nanosilica Damping Factor Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Introduction In recent years, the fillers use in natural fiber composites has gained significant attention in recent years. The non-natural based filler such as calcium carbonate, silica, alumina, talc, etc., are fillers used with natural fiber composite[ 1 – 3 ]. The filler addition, affect the composite’s overall performance, reduce cost, and enhances its processability[ 4 , 5 ]. The incorporation of fillers can also lead to significant improvements in mechanical behavior of natural fiber composites, like and impact resistance, flexural strength and tensile strength due to the ability of fillers to absorb and distribute stresses, and to act as a barrier to crack propagation[ 6 – 8 ]. In continuation, fillers can also improves thermal stability and flame retardancy of composites, which is particularly important in application where the material is applied to high temperatures or flames, and in addition to their mechanical and thermal benefits[ 9 – 11 ]. Hence, application of fillers in natural fiber composites is a promising approach to enhance their performance and expand their range of applications However, careful selection and optimization in view of filler content is necessary for achieving the desired properties and performance[ 12 , 13 ]. Notably, composites with fibers oriented at 0° in both fiber and cutting directions exhibited superior mechanical properties compared to other configurations. The introduction of a 45° direction was found to mitigate the anisotropic nature of the composites. Additionally, varying stacking orientations was observed to diminish the anisotropic characteristics of the resulting composites [ 14 , 15 ]. Addition of 20% jute fibre by volume provides better mechanical characteristics with oil palm fibre polymer composites[ 16 ]. The applications of natural fiber as electronic component like circuit board with epoxy resin matrix and shows their potential as epoxy filled natural fibres are applicable in various industry related applications [ 17 ]. Addition of nanofiller unified the coir fibre and enhances the hydrophilic nature of coir fibre composite [ 18 ]. For further analysis finite element analysis may be performed [ 19 ]. Modern demands for lightweight, high-strength materials, Fabrication methods, matrix-reinforcement microstructure, and application dictate their diverse properties—mechanical, thermal, physical, and morphological. This work reviews testing and characterization of fiber-reinforce epoxy composites, offering insights into the dependencies and current research trends [ 20 – 22 ]. Natural fibers shows their biodegradability, decomposition and cost effectiveness with its intrinsic industrial applications [ 23 ]. Many researchers have been worked on filler based natural fiber composites but work related with nanosilica in Saccharum munja fiber have given less attention. In this work, mechanical and dynamic (free vibration) characteristics of nanosilica filled Saccharum munja fiber polymer composite have been analyzed. The varying amount of nanosilica form 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% have been added into Saccharum munja polymer composite and named as SES0.0, SES1.0, SES2.0, SES3.0, SES4.0 and SES5.0, respectively. Material and Method Saccharum munja fiber is extracted from the munja grass plant. It's durable, versatile, and used for making ropes, mats, and handicrafts. The fiber is eco-friendly, biodegradable, and sustainable, offering potential applications in textiles, paper production, and composite materials, with benefits for rural livelihoods and sustainable development. The Saccharum munja fiber in woven formats i.e. plain, twill, stain, basket, and herringbone pattern, have been purchased from Balaji Enterprises, Varanasi, India. The Saccharum munja fiber and its weaving pattern are shown in Fig. 1 . Nanoslica and its inclusion in composite materials significantly affects the properties of composite materials. This is because the improved interfacial adhesion between the rice bran particles and the matrix material, resulting in a more compact structure. The particle size and distribution of nanosilica can affect the mechanical properties, such as tensile and flexural strength of the composite material. Initially, a steel frame with a cavity size of 40mm x 40mm x 3mm was considered, and two thick granite plates were considered to cover it from top to bottom. The thick plates were considered to avoid deflection due to the load applied for curing composite laminates. A known weight of epoxy, along with a woven mat and nanosilica, were kept inside the mould cavity and properly enclosed by granite plates. Then this was kept inside the compressive mould machine at a temperature of 90 degrees Celsius and a pressure of 170 bar. The composite laminates were cured for 18 hours before being extracted from the mould cavity. All specimens were cut using ASTM standards and tested five specimens for each tests and average values have been considered for analysis. Result and Discussion Tensile Test Saccharum munja epoxy composite tensile test results with nonosilica filler are shown in Fig. 2 . 180 MPa tensile strength obtained for Saccharum munja composite with 0% nanosilica. Now, 210 MPa, 224 MPa values improves with further addition of nanosilica and is observed maximum (250 MPa) for the 3% nanosilica. In general, the nanoparticles would have served as a link between the fibre and the matrices and improve the bonding between them. Therefore, the strength has increased up to certain percentage of the filler addition. Also, the application of the load on composite material creates tension is transfer easily from matrix material to fibre and results in increasing the tensile characteristics. After 3.0% filler addition, the tensile strength of composite began to decline. The reason behind this may be an increase in the filler that induces more molecule-to-molecule association rather than interrelations between matrix and fibre materials. Flexural Test Figure 3 represents the flexural strength of Saccharum munja epoxy composite with nonosilica filler. The flexural strength 170 MPa has been obtained without nanosilica addition and with 1% inclusion of nanosilica the flexural strength enhances to 180 MPa. Further addition of nanosilica enhances the flexural properties (220 MPa) of SES composite up to 3% of nanosilica addition. With the nearby nanosilica particles, the volume of epoxy matrix may be constrained that helps in preventing the upcoming bending strain comes due to bending load and that results in reduction of deformation during yielding and also reduce the crack growth. Now, increasing amount of nanosilica more than 3% causes local clustering/ undesired accumulation of nanosilica particles and creates less gap for fiber matrix interaction which deteriorates the quality of bond between fibre and matrix, therefore shows adverse effect on flexural behaviour of SES composites. Impact Test The impact test has been performed for the all the nanosilica added Saccharum munja epoxy composite and the obtained responses are presented in Fig. 4 . Impact energy corresponding to SES0.0, SES1.0, SES2.0, SES3.0, SES4.0, and SES5.0 are recorded as 126, 128, 135, 140, 126 and 127 J/m, respectively. The responses show the same scenario as impact, flexural and tensile strength increases with the increasing percentage of the nanosilica up to three percent and is decreases as the more amount of nanosilica is being added. Hardness Test The hardness of SES composites with varying nanosilica content is reported in Fig. 5 . The result revealed the hardness enhances with nanosilica addition up to 3%, with a maximum value of 22.5 HRF. Beyond 3% nanosilica, the hardness decreases. The addition of 1% and 2% nanosilica increases the hardness to 19 HRF and 20 HRF, respectively. However, at 4% and 5% nanosilica, the hardness drops to 19.5 HRF and 18 HRF, respectively. The optimal nanosilica content for achieving maximum hardness is 3%. The hardness increase is likely due to reinforcement effect of nanosilica particles, which enhances mechanical behavior of composites. The decrease in hardness beyond 3% nanosilica may be due to agglomeration or poor dispersion of nanosilica particles. Overall, the results suggest that nanosilica addition can improve the hardness of SES composites. Water Absorption Test The results for SES composites with varying nanosilica content (0–5%) presented in Fig. 6 which shows that the higher nanosilica content leading to decreased water absorption, particularly up to 3%. However, it increases by further addition of nanosilica. This suggests that excessive nanosilica may introduce porosity or defects, allowing more water penetration. The optimal nanosilica content for minimizing water absorption appears to be around 0–3%, as with these samples exhibiting relatively lower water absorption values. Thermogravimetric Analysis The nanosilica addition improves the thermal stability of SES composites presented in Fig. 7 . TGA analysis shows that nanosilica inclusion delays degradation onset by 10–14°C and slows down degradation rate. Composites with nanosilica particles exhibit higher residue percentage (21-25.5%) at 600°C compared to those without nanosilica (14%). The nanosilica forms a thermal shielding layer at the fiber-matrix interface, enhancing thermal stability. Free Vibration Analysis The natural frequencies and damping factors of Saccharum munja epoxy polymer composite with nonosilica filler composite is investigated using experimental setup and presented in Table 1 . The natural frequency increases with nanosilica addition up to 3%, with SES3.0 exhibiting the highest natural frequency values across all modes (25, 144, 326, 520, 888, and 969 Hz). Beyond 3% nanosilica, the natural frequency decreases. The damping factor generally decreases with nanosilica addition, with SES 3.0 showing relatively low damping factor values (0.060, 0.045, 0.037, 0.036, 0.025, and 0.024). The optimal nanosilica content for high natural frequency and low damping factor is around 3%. Natural frequency increases with nanosilica addition is because of the enhanced stiffness of composite material. The decrease in damping factors suggests improvment vibration suppression characteristics. Overall, obtained result indicates that nanosilica addition significantly influences the dynamic behavior of SES composites, and optimal nanosilica content can be optimized for specific applications. Table 1 Natural frequencies and damping factors of nonosilica added Saccharum munja epoxy composite using experimental setup Sr. No Composite Natural Frequency & Associated Damping Factor Mode 1 Mode 2 Mode 3 Mode 4 Mode 5 Mode 6 1. SES 0.0 16 0.090 106 0.073 192 0.059 299 0.058 412 0.041 692 0.038 2. SES 1.0 19 0.071 110 0.056 212 0.044 320 0.040 430 0.033 725 0.026 3. SES 2.0 21 0.061 129 0.042 270 0.038 420 0.037 575 0.026 848 0.025 4. SES 3.0 25 0.060 144 0.045 326 0.037 520 0.036 888 0.025 969 0.024 5. SES 4.0 19 0.059 116 0.045 229 0.034 460 0.030 520 0.020 788 0.020 6. SES 5.0 16 0.056 110 0.040 203 0.036 308 0.035 438 0.023 708 0.022 Conclusion The study concludes that the addition of nanosilica up to 3% improves the mechanical and dynamic properties of Saccharum munja fiber polymer composites. The composite with 3% nanosilica content exhibits superior properties, including tensile strength of 250 MPa, flexural strength of 220 MPa, impact energy of 140 J/m, and hardness of 22.5 HRF. The water absorption is lower, and the thermal stability is improved. The natural frequency values are higher (25, 144, 326, 520, 888, and 969 Hz), and the damping factor values are lower (0.060, 0.045, 0.037, 0.036, 0.025, and 0.024). These findings suggest that the Saccharum munja fiber polymer composite with nanosilica filler has potential applications in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, and construction. Declarations Author Contribution Savendra Pratap Singh: Conceptualization; experimental work; wrote paper Dr. Chetan Kumar Hirwani: proofread; wrote paper Conflict of Interest Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest in terms of research, authorship and publication in this research paper. Funding Authors declare that no known financial sources available for this research work. Data Availability All used data are included in the research paper. Acknowledgement Authors are very Thankful Rajkiya Engineering College, Azamgarh for providing Laboratory for research work. 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Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 08 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Silicon → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 20 Oct, 2025 Reviews received at journal 15 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 10 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 05 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 05 Sep, 2025 Reviews received at journal 03 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 03 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 03 Sep, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 03 Sep, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 03 Sep, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 13 Aug, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 13 Aug, 2025 First submitted to journal 12 Aug, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7354944","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":511097321,"identity":"e119e9cf-96d8-413f-a777-36975b707576","order_by":0,"name":"Savendra Pratap 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The non-natural based filler such as calcium carbonate, silica, alumina, talc, etc., are fillers used with natural fiber composite[\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR2\" citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. The filler addition, affect the composite\u0026rsquo;s overall performance, reduce cost, and enhances its processability[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. The incorporation of fillers can also lead to significant improvements in mechanical behavior of natural fiber composites, like and impact resistance, flexural strength and tensile strength due to the ability of fillers to absorb and distribute stresses, and to act as a barrier to crack propagation[\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR7\" citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]. In continuation, fillers can also improves thermal stability and flame retardancy of composites, which is particularly important in application where the material is applied to high temperatures or flames, and in addition to their mechanical and thermal benefits[\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR10\" citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]. Hence, application of fillers in natural fiber composites is a promising approach to enhance their performance and expand their range of applications However, careful selection and optimization in view of filler content is necessary for achieving the desired properties and performance[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. Notably, composites with fibers oriented at 0\u0026deg; in both fiber and cutting directions exhibited superior mechanical properties compared to other configurations. The introduction of a 45\u0026deg; direction was found to mitigate the anisotropic nature of the composites. Additionally, varying stacking orientations was observed to diminish the anisotropic characteristics of the resulting composites [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. Addition of 20% jute fibre by volume provides better mechanical characteristics with oil palm fibre polymer composites[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]. The applications of natural fiber as electronic component like circuit board with epoxy resin matrix and shows their potential as epoxy filled natural fibres are applicable in various industry related applications [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]. Addition of nanofiller unified the coir fibre and enhances the hydrophilic nature of coir fibre composite [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]. For further analysis finite element analysis may be performed [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]. Modern demands for lightweight, high-strength materials, Fabrication methods, matrix-reinforcement microstructure, and application dictate their diverse properties\u0026mdash;mechanical, thermal, physical, and morphological. This work reviews testing and characterization of fiber-reinforce epoxy composites, offering insights into the dependencies and current research trends [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR21\" citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e]. Natural fibers shows their biodegradability, decomposition and cost effectiveness with its intrinsic industrial applications [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMany researchers have been worked on filler based natural fiber composites but work related with nanosilica in Saccharum munja fiber have given less attention. In this work, mechanical and dynamic (free vibration) characteristics of nanosilica filled Saccharum munja fiber polymer composite have been analyzed. The varying amount of nanosilica form 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% have been added into Saccharum munja polymer composite and named as SES0.0, SES1.0, SES2.0, SES3.0, SES4.0 and SES5.0, respectively.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Material and Method","content":"\u003cp\u003eSaccharum munja fiber is extracted from the munja grass plant. It's durable, versatile, and used for making ropes, mats, and handicrafts. The fiber is eco-friendly, biodegradable, and sustainable, offering potential applications in textiles, paper production, and composite materials, with benefits for rural livelihoods and sustainable development. The Saccharum munja fiber in woven formats i.e. plain, twill, stain, basket, and herringbone pattern, have been purchased from Balaji Enterprises, Varanasi, India. The Saccharum munja fiber and its weaving pattern are shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNanoslica and its inclusion in composite materials significantly affects the properties of composite materials. This is because the improved interfacial adhesion between the rice bran particles and the matrix material, resulting in a more compact structure. The particle size and distribution of nanosilica can affect the mechanical properties, such as tensile and flexural strength of the composite material. Initially, a steel frame with a cavity size of 40mm x 40mm x 3mm was considered, and two thick granite plates were considered to cover it from top to bottom. The thick plates were considered to avoid deflection due to the load applied for curing composite laminates. A known weight of epoxy, along with a woven mat and nanosilica, were kept inside the mould cavity and properly enclosed by granite plates. Then this was kept inside the compressive mould machine at a temperature of 90 degrees Celsius and a pressure of 170 bar. The composite laminates were cured for 18 hours before being extracted from the mould cavity. All specimens were cut using ASTM standards and tested five specimens for each tests and average values have been considered for analysis.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Result and Discussion","content":"\u003ch2\u003eTensile Test\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eSaccharum munja epoxy composite tensile test results with nonosilica filler are shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e. 180 MPa tensile strength obtained for Saccharum munja composite with 0% nanosilica. Now, 210 MPa, 224 MPa values improves with further addition of nanosilica and is observed maximum (250 MPa) for the 3% nanosilica. In general, the nanoparticles would have served as a link between the fibre and the matrices and improve the bonding between them. Therefore, the strength has increased up to certain percentage of the filler addition. Also, the application of the load on composite material creates tension is transfer easily from matrix material to fibre and results in increasing the tensile characteristics. After 3.0% filler addition, the tensile strength of composite began to decline. The reason behind this may be an increase in the filler that induces more molecule-to-molecule association rather than interrelations between matrix and fibre materials.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFlexural Test\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFigure \u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e represents the flexural strength of Saccharum munja epoxy composite with nonosilica filler. The flexural strength 170 MPa has been obtained without nanosilica addition and with 1% inclusion of nanosilica the flexural strength enhances to 180 MPa. Further addition of nanosilica enhances the flexural properties (220 MPa) of SES composite up to 3% of nanosilica addition. With the nearby nanosilica particles, the volume of epoxy matrix may be constrained that helps in preventing the upcoming bending strain comes due to bending load and that results in reduction of deformation during yielding and also reduce the crack growth. Now, increasing amount of nanosilica more than 3% causes local clustering/ undesired accumulation of nanosilica particles and creates less gap for fiber matrix interaction which deteriorates the quality of bond between fibre and matrix, therefore shows adverse effect on flexural behaviour of SES composites.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eImpact Test\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe impact test has been performed for the all the nanosilica added Saccharum munja epoxy composite and the obtained responses are presented in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e. Impact energy corresponding to SES0.0, SES1.0, SES2.0, SES3.0, SES4.0, and SES5.0 are recorded as 126, 128, 135, 140, 126 and 127 J/m, respectively. The responses show the same scenario as impact, flexural and tensile strength increases with the increasing percentage of the nanosilica up to three percent and is decreases as the more amount of nanosilica is being added.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHardness Test\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe hardness of SES composites with varying nanosilica content is reported in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e. The result revealed the hardness enhances with nanosilica addition up to 3%, with a maximum value of 22.5 HRF. Beyond 3% nanosilica, the hardness decreases. The addition of 1% and 2% nanosilica increases the hardness to 19 HRF and 20 HRF, respectively. However, at 4% and 5% nanosilica, the hardness drops to 19.5 HRF and 18 HRF, respectively. The optimal nanosilica content for achieving maximum hardness is 3%. The hardness increase is likely due to reinforcement effect of nanosilica particles, which enhances mechanical behavior of composites. The decrease in hardness beyond 3% nanosilica may be due to agglomeration or poor dispersion of nanosilica particles. Overall, the results suggest that nanosilica addition can improve the hardness of SES composites.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWater Absorption Test\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe results for SES composites with varying nanosilica content (0–5%) presented in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e which shows that the higher nanosilica content leading to decreased water absorption, particularly up to 3%. However, it increases by further addition of nanosilica. This suggests that excessive nanosilica may introduce porosity or defects, allowing more water penetration. The optimal nanosilica content for minimizing water absorption appears to be around 0–3%, as with these samples exhibiting relatively lower water absorption values.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThermogravimetric Analysis\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe nanosilica addition improves the thermal stability of SES composites presented in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e. TGA analysis shows that nanosilica inclusion delays degradation onset by 10–14°C and slows down degradation rate. Composites with nanosilica particles exhibit higher residue percentage (21-25.5%) at 600°C compared to those without nanosilica (14%). The nanosilica forms a thermal shielding layer at the fiber-matrix interface, enhancing thermal stability.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFree Vibration Analysis\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe natural frequencies and damping factors of Saccharum munja epoxy polymer composite with nonosilica filler composite is investigated using experimental setup and presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e. The natural frequency increases with nanosilica addition up to 3%, with SES3.0 exhibiting the highest natural frequency values across all modes (25, 144, 326, 520, 888, and 969 Hz). Beyond 3% nanosilica, the natural frequency decreases. The damping factor generally decreases with nanosilica addition, with SES 3.0 showing relatively low damping factor values (0.060, 0.045, 0.037, 0.036, 0.025, and 0.024). The optimal nanosilica content for high natural frequency and low damping factor is around 3%. Natural frequency increases with nanosilica addition is because of the enhanced stiffness of composite material. The decrease in damping factors suggests improvment vibration suppression characteristics. Overall, obtained result indicates that nanosilica addition significantly influences the dynamic behavior of SES composites, and optimal nanosilica content can be optimized for specific applications.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNatural frequencies and damping factors of nonosilica added Saccharum munja epoxy composite using experimental setup\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSr. No\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eComposite\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"6\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eNatural Frequency \u0026amp; Associated Damping Factor\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMode 1\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMode 2\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMode 3\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMode 4\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMode 5\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMode 6\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e1.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSES 0.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.090\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e106\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.073\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e192\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.059\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e299\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.058\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e412\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.041\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e692\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.038\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e2.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSES 1.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.071\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e110\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.056\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e212\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.044\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e320\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.040\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e430\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.033\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e725\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.026\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e3.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSES 2.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e21\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.061\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e129\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.042\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e270\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.038\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e420\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.037\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e575\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.026\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e848\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.025\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e4.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSES 3.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e25\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.060\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e144\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.045\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e326\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.037\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e520\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.036\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e888\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.025\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e969\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.024\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e5.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSES 4.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e19\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.059\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e116\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.045\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e229\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.034\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e460\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.030\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e520\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.020\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e788\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.020\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eSES 5.0\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e16\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.056\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e110\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.040\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e203\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.036\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e308\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.035\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e438\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.023\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e708\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e0.022\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe study concludes that the addition of nanosilica up to 3% improves the mechanical and dynamic properties of Saccharum munja fiber polymer composites. The composite with 3% nanosilica content exhibits superior properties, including tensile strength of 250 MPa, flexural strength of 220 MPa, impact energy of 140 J/m, and hardness of 22.5 HRF. The water absorption is lower, and the thermal stability is improved. The natural frequency values are higher (25, 144, 326, 520, 888, and 969 Hz), and the damping factor values are lower (0.060, 0.045, 0.037, 0.036, 0.025, and 0.024). These findings suggest that the Saccharum munja fiber polymer composite with nanosilica filler has potential applications in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, and construction.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSavendra Pratap Singh:\u003c/strong\u003e Conceptualization; experimental work; wrote paper \u003cstrong\u003eDr. Chetan Kumar Hirwani:\u003c/strong\u003e\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;proofread; wrote paper\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of Interest\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuthors declare that there is no conflict of interest in terms of research, authorship and publication in this research paper.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuthors declare that no known financial sources available for this research work.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData Availability\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll used data are included in the research paper.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuthors are very Thankful Rajkiya Engineering College, Azamgarh for providing Laboratory for research work.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYakushchenko S V., Brailo M V., Buketov A V., Sapronov O O, Popovych V and Dulebova L 2022 INVESTIGATION OF THE PROPERTIES AND STRUCTURE OF EPOXY-POLYESTER COMPOSITES WITH TWO-COMPONENT BIDISPERSED FILLER \u003cem\u003eCompos. 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Today Proc.\u003c/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e33\u003c/strong\u003e 1212\u0026ndash;5\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUpadhyay R K and Kumar A 2022 Micro-Indentation Studies of Polymers \u003cem\u003eEncyclopedia of Materials: Plastics and Polymers\u003c/em\u003e (Elsevier) pp 928\u0026ndash;37\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAtmakuri A, Palevicius A, Vilkauskas A and Janusas G 2022 Numerical and Experimental Analysis of Mechanical Properties of Natural-Fiber-Reinforced Hybrid Polymer Composites and the Effect on Matrix Material \u003cem\u003ePolymers (Basel).\u003c/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e14\u003c/strong\u003e 2612\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"
[email protected]","identity":"silicon","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"scon","sideBox":"Learn more about [Silicon](https://www.springer.com/journal/12633)","snPcode":"12633","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/12633/3","title":"Silicon","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Saccharum Munja, Tensile, Hardness, Thermal, Frequency, Nanosilica, Damping Factor","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7354944/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7354944/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis study investigates the mechanical and dynamic behavior of nanosilica-filled Saccharum munja fiber polymer composites. The composites were fabricated with varying nanosilica content (0\u0026ndash;5%) and tested for tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness properties. The results show that the addition of nanosilica up to 3% improves the mechanical properties, including tensile strength (250 MPa), flexural strength (220 MPa), impact energy (140 J/m), and hardness (22.5 HRF). The water absorption test reveals that the composite with 3% nanosilica content shows lower water absorption. The thermogravimetric analysis indicates that the nanosilica addition improves the thermal stability of the composite. The free vibration analysis shows that the composite with 3% nanosilica content has higher natural frequency values (25, 144, 326, 520, 888, and 969 Hz) and lower damping factor values (0.060, 0.045, 0.037, 0.036, 0.025, and 0.024). Overall, the study suggests that the Saccharum munja fiber polymer composite with 3% nanosilica content has potential applications in various industries.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Mechanical and Dynamic Behavior Analysis of Nanosilica added Saccharum Munja Fiber Epoxy Composite","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-09-10 08:20:12","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7354944/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-10-21T03:12:52+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-15T16:51:35+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-11T01:17:57+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"295594468419025358116823857239543622200","date":"2025-09-05T14:31:44+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-05T07:51:14+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-04T02:57:56+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"111536900872872972053864787323199406253","date":"2025-09-03T16:42:33+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"153727642933626986055112063315558680868","date":"2025-09-03T13:58:55+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"290907795217290215495540890518404529796","date":"2025-09-03T13:23:02+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-09-03T12:33:38+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-08-14T02:08:53+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-08-14T02:08:51+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Silicon","date":"2025-08-12T10:52:36+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"
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