EFFECT OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE TREATMENT ON THE PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF EPOXY-BLACK DATE SEED PARTICULATE COMPOSITES

Abstract

The present investigation entails the development of epoxy/black date seed particulates (BDSP) composites fabricated by hand lay-up method. The BDSP with particle size 180µm was treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH)solution and was loaded in the epoxy matrix from 0 to 20 wt% at 5 wt% interval to produce both treated (TDSP) and untreated (UDSP) composites. Physical (Density measurement) and mechanical (Tensile, impact, flexural and hardness) properties as well as Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on tensile fractured surfaces were used to characterize the produced composites. The results obtained showed that the density of the composites (both TDSP and UDSP) and the control lied between 1.41 and 1.56 g/cm3. Also, the hardness values increased with BDSP loading with those of TDSP (82.2 HV at 20wt% ASP) being higher than those of UDSP (44.4 HV at 20wt% ASP) and the tensile strength decreased progressively with increase in BDSP content. SEM images showed that TDSP produced composites contained rougher contours than that of UDSP. The produced composites exhibited properties that were within acceptable limits for useful engineering applications.