TITLE:
Development and Evaluation of the Mechanical Properties of Coconut Fibre Reinforced Low Density Polyethylene Composite
AUTHORS:
Ahmed Mohammed Bukar, Abubakar Mohammed El-Jummah, Abba Alhaji Hammajam
KEYWORDS:
Coconut Fibre, Low Density Polyethylene, Composite, Mechanical Properties, Water Absorptivity
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Composite Materials,
Vol.12 No.3,
June
17,
2022
ABSTRACT: This research work developed and evaluated the mechanical properties of
coconut fibre reinforced low density polyethylene (LPDE) composite material. The effect of fibre
loading on the mechanical properties: tensile, flexural, and
impact of the developed composite material have been investigated. Also carried
out was the effect of fibre loading on the water absorptivity of the developed material. Sample categories of the
developed composite were prepared by varying the fibre contents by weight at
0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%. The aim is to reduce the excessive waste disposal of LDPE materials
that are largely found in the form of disposed water package materials (or pure
water sachets) that usually affects the environment in the form of pollution. The water retting process was applied in extracting and cleaning fibre (or
coir), while the mixed coir-LDPE (or developed composite material) was prepared
by Compression Moulding Technique (CMT). The tensile and flexural properties
were tested using Hounsfield Monsanto Tensometer (type w) while the impact
properties were tested using the Charpy
Impact testing machine. The
microstructure of the composite was investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The
fractured surface morphology of the composite samples indicated a homogeneous
mixture of the coir fibre and LDPE matrix. However, weak interfacial bonding
between the coir fibre and LDPE matrix was also observed. The analysis of the
water absorptivity showed that the developed
composite materials have low water absorptivity at low fibre loading. However,
at higher fibre loading, the water absorptivity increases significantly.