Original Article
  • Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Waste Ground Nut-shell Reinforced Polyester Composites
  • M.N. Prabhakar*, Atta ur rehman Shah*, Jung-Il Song*†
  • *Department of Mechanical Engineering, Changwon National University *†Department of Mechanical Engineering, Changwon National University, Corresponding author (E-mail: jisong@changwon.ac.kr)
Abstract
ABSTRACT: In the current study explain about the bio-based composites made by groundnut shell as reinforcementwith polyester resin matrix. Groundnut shell is an abundantly available natural waste byproduct and poly ester resin iswidely used to fabricate of composites for good balance of mechanical properties because it is relatively low price andease of handling. Evaluate the mechanical properties of manufactured groundnut shell/polyester composites by varyingthe amounts (wt %) of groundnut shell. Particulate shell reinforced polyester composites incorporating varyingamounts of groundnut shell (5, 10, 15 and 20%) were characterized for their tensile strength, flexural strength, andimpact strength. The mechanical properties improved with increasing particle loading up to 15% and decreasedthereafter. Increasing in strength with increased particle shell loading was attributed to increase in surface area whichenhanced load transfer between the polyester matrix and ground shall particulates. Scanning electron microscopicstudies have been carried out to study the morphology of the composite. Thermal studies and water absorptionproperties of the composites also studied in this paper.

Keywords: Tensile strength, Modulus, Weight fraction, Bio-filler, Ground nut shell

This Article

  • 2015; 28(3): 118-123

    Published on Jun 30, 2015