Study of the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Coconut Spathe Fiber Reinforced Obsolete Polymer Composites

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have gradually gained wide acceptance as engineering material applications due to their unique advantages including their high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent corrosion resistance. This study was carried out with composites prepared by hot press molding method using coconut spathe fiber as reinforcing material and HDPE (from HDPE can as obsolete polymer) as polymer matrix. Composites were made at 150°C under 60 kN load by taking diverse weight percentage (wt.%) of fiber from 0 to 20 of its total weight. In this research investigation, different properties of the composites such as bulk density, water absorption, tensile and flexural properties, impact strength and hardness test properties were carried out. The fiber content enhancement increases the bulk density in all composites. The rate of water absorption improves with the improvement of fiber addition with respect to HDPE in all composites. But the water absorption was not increased uniformly with the increase of fiber addition in composites. In all cases, composites absorbed water very rapidly up to 80 hrs and then water absorption is in saturated condition. The mechanical properties like tensile strength (TS), flexural strength (FS), impact strength (IS) and hardness were observed to be comparatively more enhanced for 5% composite, while further increasing of fiber addition, all mechanical properties changes irregularly. The irregular nature of change might be caused due to the over loading of fiber in polymer matrix.

Fabrication and Characterization on Physico-Mechanical and Structural Properties of Sawdust Reinforced Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Composites

The sawdust reinforced Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) composites were prepared by using hot press molding machine for five different wt% (0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) at 180°C temperature and 50 KN load. Sawdust was collected from local saw mill of Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh and ABS polymer was collected from local market of Dhaka, Bangladesh. In this study, different properties of composites like physical (bulk density and water absorption), mechanical (tensile properties and hardness) and structural (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) properties were studied. The bulk density of composites was not altered consistently and it gave greater value for 5% and 20% composites. The water absorption enhanced for all composites with the accumulation of fiber content and soaking time. The reduction of tensile strength and Leeb’s rebound hardness of the composites were observed with the increase of the fiber content in all compositions. Maximum (%) of elongation was found for 5% composite, and then it gradually decreased;however, elastic modulus increased with the increased of fiber content in composites. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy study was done for structural characterization. It was found that there was a new bond (C≡C) stretching formed for 20% composite;moreover, C-H rocking for 0% composite was broken for all other composites after the addition of sawdust in ABS polymer matrix.

Study of the Physical, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Banana Fiber Reinforced HDPE Composites

Natural fiber reinforced composite materials are replacing the conventional materials, owing to their excellent physical, mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. Also they increase biodegradability, reduce cost and decrease environmental pollution and hazards. In this study, obsolete high density polyethylene (HDPE) has used as polymer matrix and banana fiber as reinforcement material. Composites (5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of fiber contents) were made by hot press molding method by using Paul-Otto Weber Hydraulic press machine. The physical, mechanical and thermal properties of banana fiber-HDPE composites were studied and investigated the increment or decrement nature of different properties due to addition of banana fiber in BF-HDPE composites. The bulk density of composites increased with the increase wt. (%) of fiber content in composites. Water absorption ability of banana fiber and BF-HDPE composites also increased with the increase of wt. (%) of fiber content in composites and with socking time. Tensile strength of the BF-HDPE composites increased with the increase of fiber content in both cases (continuous aligned fiber orientation and continuous bidirectional fiber orientation). Moreover, the tensile strength of BF-HDPE composites with continuous aligned fiber orientation was greater than that of continuous bidirectional fiber orientation. At first, the flexural strength increased for 5% BF-HDPE composites then the value decreased for other higher compositions. The flexural strength of continuous aligned fiber orientation was slightly greater than that of continuous bidirectional fiber orientation and composite with 5% banana fiber showed better flexural properties than others. Leeb’s rebound hardness decreased with the increase of fiber addition. Different thermal properties like TG/DTG, DTA of the obsolete HDPE and BF-HDPE composites were studied using thermo gravimetric analyzer and it was found that composite with 20% fiber content was more thermally stable than three other compositions.