DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RECYCLED HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (RHDPE)/NATURAL FIBRE COMPOSITES
DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RECYCLED HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (RHDPE)/NATURAL FIBRE COMPOSITES
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Date
2015-06
Authors
NTIBUNKA, Linda Obiageli
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Abstract
Fiber-reinforced polymer composites have played a dominant role for a long time in a variety of applications for their high specific strength and modulus. The fiber which serves as a reinforcement in reinforced plastics may be synthetic or natural. This research focuses on natural plant and animal fibres (palm kernel, locust bean husk, goat fur and sheep wool). It deals with the production and characterization of composites of these fibres reinforced with recycled high density polyethylene. The physical properties such as density, water absorption and thickness swelling were determined. The tensile strength, flexural strength, hardness, impact energy, and wear properties were investigated. Thermal, chemical and microstructural analyses were also carried-out on the developed samples. The study revealed the result of the variation of the engineering properties with %wt composition of fibre reinforcements. It also presented the effect of variation of fibre length on engineering properties showing 10 mm as the critical length of fibres. The thermal analysis showed the destruction temperature range of the composites to lie between 400 and 500 0C.
Description
A Thesis Submitted to the School of Postgraduate Studies Ahmadu Bello University Zaria
In Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for The Award of
Master’s of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Faculty of Engineering
Ahmadu Bello University
Zaria, Nigeria
Keywords
DEVELOPMENT,, CHARACTERIZATION,, RECYCLED,, DENSITY POLYETHYLENE,, (RHDPE)/NATURAL FIBRE,, COMPOSITES,