STUDY OF THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYESTER/COCONUT SHELL /WOOD DUST PARTICLES HYBRID COMPOSITE

Abstract

This research developed two hybrid composites consisting of unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) as matrix and different weight fractions (0 to 25wt %) at 5 wt% interval, of both fresh and ashed coconut shell and wood dust particles as fillers. The fresh and ashed (having sieve sizes of 300µm) fillers reinforced polyester hybrid composites were prepared using hand layup method and subjected to a number of tests; physical (density) and mechanical (tensile, flexural, hardness test, impact tests). It was observed that tensile strength decreased with filler loading with peak value at 5 wt% composition. Percentage elongation and flexural strength decreased with fillers content. The fresh filler reinforced samples have maximum value of percentage elongation and flexural strength of 18% and 86 N/mm2 respectively at 5wt% composition. On the hand, unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR) recorded 19% and 68 N/mm2 for the respective percentage elongation and flexural strength. Young’s modulus Modulus of elasticity followed a regular trend of increase with filler contents reaching peak at 25 wt% additions. The results further revealed that with increase in fillers additions, agradual rise gradualrise in hardness accompanied with a significant improvement in impactenergy except at 20 and 25 wt% addition was achieved.