American Chemical Science Journal, ISSN: 2249-0205,Vol.: 3, Issue.: 4 (October-December)

Original-research-article

Mechanical Properties of Wood Waste Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites

 

R. O. Medupin¹, O. K. Abubakre², K. O. Ukoba³ and P. E. Imoisili^3*

¹Mechanical Engineering Department, The Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Nigeria.
²Mechanical Engineering Department, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria.
³Research and Development Department, Engineering Materials Development Institute, Nigeria.

Article Information

Editor(s):

(1) Lajos Novak, Department of Organic Chemistry and Technology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, 1111 Budapest, Szt. Gellert ter 4, Hungary.

Reviewers:

(1) Carola Esposito Corcione, University of Salento, Italy.

(2) Anonymous.

(3) Panagiotis Frantzis, Greece.

Complete Peer review History: http://www.sciencedomain.org/review-history/1940

This research work set is an investigation into the mechanical properties of polymer matrix composites (PMC) produced by the use of wood waste. Low density polyethylene was reinforced with sawdust from African teak as a filler, and Sodium hydroxide as the binder. The composite were fabricated by a compression moulding technique; composites with amounts of wood waste ranging from 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 wt. % were produced. Results indicated that 40% of wood waste was the optimum reinforcement. Increasing amount of reinforcement improves the strength and stiffness of the composites but decreases the impact strength. The results also suggests that the rate of water absorption of the composite was high in the first few hours and that the highest water absorption rate was observed with 60% reinforcement. Microstructural examination revealed that there were small discontinuities and a reasonably uniform distribution of wood particles in the polymer matrix.

Keywords :

Wood waste; polymer matrix composite; mechanical properties; African teak.

Full Article - PDF    Page 507-513

DOI : 10.9734/ACSJ/2013/5637

Review History    Comments