ABSTRACT
This research is to develop environmentally friendly, lightweight composites using coconut shell, as filler in some thermoplastic polymer matrices Polystyrene (PS); to determine the mechanical properties of the coconut shell-residue polymer composite, to find if there is any new improvement over the properties of the starting thermoplastic polymer and determine the morphology and elemental composition of the composites. Coconut shell was collected from the surroundings of Ekwulumili in Nnewi-South L.G.A of Anambra State, Eastern Nigeria where they have been dumped after usage. The research was carried-out at JUNENG NIG LIMITED Enugu, Civil Engineering Department Laboratory University of Nigeria and Chemical Engineering Department Laboratory Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Nigeria; between May 2016 and August 2018. The agro-wastes were grand into power and incorporated into the virgin thermoplastic polymers as filler at varied levels of 3%, 6%, 9%, 12% and 15%. The virgin HDPE thermoplastic polymers were used as the Control in the study. The mechanical properties of the composites produced were determined using American standard for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Standard Testing Methods; Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to determine morphology while Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) was used to determine the elemental composition of the composites. There was a significant improvement in tensile strength and tensile modulus of the blend coconut shell filler composites which were influenced by the amount of filler in the composites. The PS loaded with coconut shell filler has MoE (Modulus of Elasticity) at 3% of coconut shell filler has MoE of 893.22 MPa, 6% filler has MoE of 678.79 MPa, 9% filler has MoE of 1582.20 MPa, 12% filler has MoE of 1475.00 MPa and at 15 % filler has MoE of 780.12 MPa respectively. Then the value of MoE for pure PS matrix obtained in this work is 955.59 MPa. These results indicate that loading PS with 9% and 12% of coconut shell filler led to increase in the MoE which ultimately increased the brittle tendency of the polymer composites. Loading of PS with 6% and 15% of coconut shell filler respectively decreased the MoE of the polymer below the control sample suggesting that the ductility of the sample has been slightly increased. In tensile strengths of 13.98 MPa, 9.87 MPa, 41.94 MPa, 20.56 MPa, and 9.05 MPa were obtained for 3 %, 6 %, 9 %, 12 % and 15 % respectively while that of unloaded PS was 12.34 MPa. The results show that incorporation of coconut shell filler within the PS matrix improved in the tensile strength for composites formed with 3%, 9% and 12% of coconut shell filler while decrease in tensile strength were observed for composites formed with 6% and 15 % of coconut shell filler. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) using imageJ software was carried out on the samples to estimate the average particle size of the polymer coconut shell waste. The micrograph reveals uniformity of smooth surface structure. This signifies homogeneous dispersion of the filler into the polymer matrix. It may also be because of low loading of the filler into the polymer matrix and also good adhesion between polymer matrix and dispersed phase. The elemental compositional analysis, using Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) had all samples contain C and N as a major element present and others as trace; Fe, Zn, Ti, S, K, Al and Si. This study has provided different combinations of coconut shell-residue thermoplastic polymer composites which have potential application in the automobile and building construction industry. The utilization of agro-waste products in Nigeria and its degradation would help solve the problem of environmental pollution threat which they pose. Finally, the whole project would serve as a means of turning waste to wealth by utilizing agro-waste products in developing low cost polymer composites to serve a number of interesting applications.
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