Hwazen Fadhil
Abstract
Natural materials have been extensively used as reinforcements in polymer matrices instead of non-degradable synthetic reinforcement such as carbon, glass or aramid. The use is because ...
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Natural materials have been extensively used as reinforcements in polymer matrices instead of non-degradable synthetic reinforcement such as carbon, glass or aramid. The use is because of their low density, good mechanical properties, availability, and biodegradability. Peanut shell is one such natural waste filler used, and it contains cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Natural fiber/particle sources are not only strong and lightweight but are relatively very cheap. This paper offers the comparison of the flexural, and impact energy test properties of the peanut shell reinforced with the epoxy resin matrix. Peanut shells add into the epoxy resin matrix with various weight fractions (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) and have been fabricated by hand lay-up procedure. Flexural strength and flexural modulus changed from (140MPa) to (160 MPa), and from (2 GPa) to (7.79 GPa) respectively, impact strength, and fracture toughness changed from (2.5 KJ/m2) to (7 KJ/m2), and from (2.23 MPa.m1/2) to (7.07 MPa.m1/2), respectively as a function of the particle weight fraction. The highest flexural strength and modulus obtained samples (reinforced 4% wt. peanut shell), while samples (reinforced +8% wt. peanut shell) provided the highest impact strength and fracture toughness.
