Mechanical Characterization of Eco-Friendly Composites: Green Epoxy Resin Reinforced with Coir Fibers

The increasing demand for sustainable materials has fostered the development of natural fiber-reinforced composites as eco-friendly alternatives to petroleum-based systems. This work investigates the mechanical performance of GreenPoxy resin reinforced with coir fibers through a comprehensive experimental program. Fiber properties were first characterized by density and tensile tests, while the resin was evaluated under tensile and flexural loading. Composite laminates were then fabricated by hand lay-up using 3% and 6% fiber volume fractions, with both untreated and retted fibers. Mechanical behavior was analyzed using Taguchi design and ANOVA to assess the effects of fiber treatment and content. Untreated fibers displayed slightly higher intrinsic strength, while mercerization enhanced fiber–matrix adhesion, particularly at higher fractions. The composites exhibited promising properties, confirming the potential of coir/GreenPoxy systems for sustainable structural applications.