Evaluation of the mechanical properties of sawdust, oil bean pod filler, raffia palm fibre and CaCO3 filled/epoxy hybridized composite

Abstract

This work was carried out to develop green composite from organic materials which are cheaply available within Nigeria. This study deals with the hybridization of epoxy composite with different organic materials. Five diffident composites were produced with the hybridization of matrix, sawdust (SD), raffia palm fibre (RPF), oil bean pod filler (OBPF) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) mixed at different volume. The composite samples were produced through the hand layup method, and their tensile and flexural properties, determined in accordance to ASTM International procedures. Results obtained from the laboratory tests indicated that the reinforcement materials greatly influenced the mechanical properties of the composite samples. The result revealed that the hybrid composite of SD, CaCO3 and RPF had the best, compared to the other composite with different reinforcement materials. Similarly, it was observed that the composite produced with SD, OBPF and RPF had better tensile and flexural properties as compared to the composite reinforced with SD and CaCO3. This study affirmed that organic materials can be used to replace inorganic material (CaCO3), hence the actualization of green composite is practically feasible