## 3 Results
### Sem  
The scanning electron microscope (SEM) image presented in Figure 12 provides a detailed view of the microstructure of the neat polymer derived from pure epoxy resin. The image reveals an overall homogeneous structure, indicating that the epoxy has cured properly without the formation of undesirable microstructural defects such as phase separation. No visible cracks, pores, or microvoids are observed on the surface, which suggests a mechanically cohesive structure. However, certain regions of the surface exhibit irregular undulations and folds, characteristic of the amorphous nature of the material. These features reflect the glassy and amorphous structure of the epoxy. Since no fibers, reinforcements, or fillers are present, there is no evidence of orientation or phase boundaries on the surface. Overall, the SEM image demonstrates that the neat epoxy polymer forms a uniform, compact, and defect-free microstructure, confirming that the material was successfully produced in terms of structural quality.  
The SEM image shown in Figure 13 illustrates the epoxy composite reinforced with 3.5 wt.% (1.75 g) seashell powder and demonstrates that this reinforcement level is optimal in terms of both microstructural integrity and mechanical performance. The image clearly shows that the seashell particles are homogeneously distributed within the matrix, and this distribution does not disrupt the surface morphology. The presence of porosity is minimal, and the reinforcement phase appears to form a good bond with the matrix. The absence of delamination, separation, or voids at the filler-matrix interfaces indicates that the load transfer mechanism functions efficiently and that the mechanical properties of the composite are not adversely affected. Furthermore, the smoothness and structural integrity of the surface contribute to improved processability and application potential. These findings suggest that a 3.5 wt.% seashell reinforcement effectively maintains microstructural stability while optimizing the overall performance of the composite.  
Figure 12: SEM image of pure epoxy polymer.  
The SEM image of the epoxy composite containing 3.5 g (7 wt.%) seashell reinforcement, shown in Figure 14, clearly reveals that increased filler content adversely affects microstructural integrity. The image indicates that the seashell particles are not uniformly distributed within the matrix; instead, they accumulate in certain areas, forming agglomerations. These agglomerates create irregular regions that can lead to stress concentrations within the material, potentially compromising the mechanical performance of the composite. Additionally, the presence of irregular voids (pores) observed in the image suggests inadequate interaction at the filler-matrix interface and weakened bonding. The non-uniform surface morphology may result in reduced mechanical strength and long-term structural instability of the composite. In this context, it is evident that a 7 wt.% reinforcement level exceeds the optimal threshold for the epoxy matrix, leading to microstructural degradation. These findings highlight the importance of carefully optimizing filler content during the production process and demonstrate that higher reinforcement levels do not necessarily translate into improved mechanical properties.