Slip Behaviour of Epoxy-Based Safety Shoe Soles Manufactured with Mango Dry Leaf and Olive Dry Leaf Powders for Workplace Applications

الملخص

Abstract
Ensuring occupational safety in laboratory settings is paramount due to slip-related risks from
water, oils, and chemicals. This study investigates epoxy-based safety shoe soles reinforced
with mango dry leaf (MDL) and olive dry leaf (ODL) powders sourced from agricultural waste.
Epoxy resin was reinforced with 10 wt.% MDL or ODL fillers, prepared by washing, drying,
grinding, and sieving, then cast into panels and cured at room temperature for 48 hours. Static
slip resistance was evaluated under four typical laboratory surface conditions: dry, water-wet,
oil-lubricated, and mixed water-oil contamination, using a calibrated friction testing apparatus.
Results showed ODL-filled epoxy achieved the highest static friction coefficient under dry
conditions (μ = 0.99), while MDL-filled epoxy excelled under water-wet conditions (μ = 0.98).
Under mixed water-oil conditions, unfilled epoxy surprisingly performed best (μ = 0.59), with
MDL and ODL composites showing reduced coefficients (μ = 0.36 and μ = 0.20, respectively).
The results demonstrate that the inclusion of dried mango and olive leaf powders in the epoxy
matrix contributes to a notable increase in the coefficient of static friction when compared to
unreinforced epoxy and conventional ceramic tiles commonly used in laboratories. The
enhanced frictional behavior is primarily attributed to the micro-roughness and particle
interactions at the surface, introduced by the irregular morphology of the natural fillers. In
addition to slip resistance, the composites also exhibited acceptable mechanical integrity,
suggesting their suitability for use in demanding operational environments.