Cassava Rhizome as a Bio-Filler in Epoxy Resin: A Study on Mechanical and Physical Properties

Cassava Rhizome as a Bio-Filler in Epoxy Resin: A Study on Mechanical and Physical Properties | 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 Cassava Rhizome as a Bio-Filler in Epoxy Resin: A Study on Mechanical and Physical Properties Ing-orn Sittitanadol, Witawat Singsang, Jadsadaporn Chouytan, and 2 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8471876/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Growing concerns for the environment have sparked interest in natural filler reinforced composites. This research studied the effect of the particle size and amount of cassava rhizome on the properties of epoxy resin composites. A vacuum-assisted resin casting with a silicone rubber mold was used to prepare the composites. Cassava rhizome particles were classified into four size ranges: 105–149, 210–297, 297–420, and 420–590 µm and the concentrations were 10, 15, and 20 wt.%. Comprehensive analyses were conducted, including OM, FTIR, and SEM characterization, as well as mechanical evaluations such as tensile, impact, hardness, and three-point bending tests. In addition, bulk density and water absorption were performed. Results showed that the incorporation of cassava rhizome improved mechanical properties of the composites, such as hardness (Shore D), Young’s modulus, and flexural modulus, which increased by 25%, 36%, and 19%, respectively, compared to neat epoxy resin. On the other hand, impact strength, tensile strength, and elongation at break tended to decrease with increasing cassava rhizome amount. Although the incorporation of cassava rhizome initially reduced flexural strength, higher filler amounts showed a tendency to enhance it. As expected, smaller particle sizes yielded better mechanical properties of the composites. However, a higher amount of small-sized cassava rhizome also increased water absorption and bulk density. Composites Cassava rhizome Epoxy resin agricultural waste bio-reinforcement Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted 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-8471876","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":593068601,"identity":"e1c107d9-f441-4be3-ada5-b97f07e09dfd","order_by":0,"name":"Ing-orn Sittitanadol","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Khon Kaen Campus","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ing-orn","middleName":"","lastName":"Sittitanadol","suffix":""},{"id":593068602,"identity":"f6e34b20-0632-4625-b07b-f818c55a0314","order_by":1,"name":"Witawat Singsang","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Witawat","middleName":"","lastName":"Singsang","suffix":""},{"id":593068603,"identity":"113aee8d-9be8-48f9-8804-0054f7f67789","order_by":2,"name":"Jadsadaporn Chouytan","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jadsadaporn","middleName":"","lastName":"Chouytan","suffix":""},{"id":593068604,"identity":"de3a09a1-4aef-4980-8694-16f30519bb9e","order_by":3,"name":"Atiwat Wiriya-Amornchai","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Rayong campus","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Atiwat","middleName":"","lastName":"Wiriya-Amornchai","suffix":""},{"id":593068605,"identity":"269de22b-100e-4741-be8b-d5f4f01ed3f8","order_by":4,"name":"Natkrita Prasoetsopha","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA8klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYHACZgYGAzCD8QGIZIOIHsCnA6QFrIcZREpAtCQQ0gKxhk0CpIWBkBZz9vOHjSsK/sgzSPc+q67MOVzHx8D88APjjzs4tVj2JDMnnjEwMGyQOW528+y2w0CHsRlLMCQ8w6nF4EAy88EGAwPGBok0tpuNYC0MZkCHHcat5fxjsBZ7kJZCiBb2b/i13AA6DKglEaSFEaKFh4AtNx4bGzYYGCe3yRxjlmzcli7ZxsxTLJGQhs9hiY8lG/7I2fZLtzF+bNxmzS/f3r7xwwcb3FrggE0CxgLFUwJhDQzwOBwFo2AUjIJRgAEA+xxKb9Bi8sQAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Rajamangala University of Technology Isan","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Natkrita","middleName":"","lastName":"Prasoetsopha","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-12-29 10:08:33","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8471876/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8471876/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":103505163,"identity":"722578f9-38e2-45f6-92a2-2c7f804e1253","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-26 13:25:51","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1068261,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"MANUSPBEpoxyCassavarhizomeJIAWS.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8471876/v1_covered_d293df3a-d2e5-4ed0-ac0e-a600613ddee0.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Cassava Rhizome as a Bio-Filler in Epoxy Resin: A Study on Mechanical and Physical Properties","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Composites, Cassava rhizome, Epoxy resin, agricultural waste, bio-reinforcement","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8471876/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8471876/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eGrowing concerns for the environment have sparked interest in natural filler reinforced composites. This research studied the effect of the particle size and amount of cassava rhizome on the properties of epoxy resin composites. A vacuum-assisted resin casting with a silicone rubber mold was used to prepare the composites. Cassava rhizome particles were classified into four size ranges: 105\u0026ndash;149, 210\u0026ndash;297, 297\u0026ndash;420, and 420\u0026ndash;590 \u0026micro;m and the concentrations were 10, 15, and 20 wt.%. Comprehensive analyses were conducted, including OM, FTIR, and SEM characterization, as well as mechanical evaluations such as tensile, impact, hardness, and three-point bending tests. In addition, bulk density and water absorption were performed. Results showed that the incorporation of cassava rhizome improved mechanical properties of the composites, such as hardness (Shore D), Young\u0026rsquo;s modulus, and flexural modulus, which increased by 25%, 36%, and 19%, respectively, compared to neat epoxy resin. On the other hand, impact strength, tensile strength, and elongation at break tended to decrease with increasing cassava rhizome amount. Although the incorporation of cassava rhizome initially reduced flexural strength, higher filler amounts showed a tendency to enhance it. As expected, smaller particle sizes yielded better mechanical properties of the composites. 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