Evaluation of the physico-mechanical properties of polyester/corn stalk composite

Abstract

In this study, corn stalk/polyester composites were prepared using molding techniques at several percentage filler loadings per weight and the physiomechanical properties were studied. The composite showed moderate improvement in tensile strength 13.582MPa for 3% corn stalk which was the highest. The composite also reported the highest values for impact strength 744.90(J/m2 ) and flexural strength 23.947MPa, respectively for filler loading of 3% corn stalk and 93% polyester and 2% corn stalk and 98% polyester composite samples. The significant strengths recorded can be attributed to the good surface intermingling bonding between the corn stalk fillers and the polyester matrix. The study also revealed that, density of the composites decreased with increase in filler loading and the density dropped from 0.116 g/cm3 to 0.108g/cm3 . The composites recorded increase in water uptake with increasing filler loading. The results showed that the highest water absorption rate was at 5% corn stalk loading which had maximum water absorption of 4.55% by the composite samples. The physiomechanical properties of the composites indicate that it can be useful in applications which require moderate strengths. These composites could be considered as a potential way of utilizing agricultural waste materials and as sustainable resources for manufacturing of structural materials such as particle board, partitioning panels, ceiling boards thereby reducing the amount of agricultural wastes and eliminating the pollution caused by burning of corn stalk waste.