Water absorption experimental analysis of an orange peel and coconut shell particulate blend reinforcement material for composite fabrication

Engineering and Applied Science Research

关键词: Agro-wastes;    Fillers;    Orange peels;    Coconut shell;    Mixtures;   

DOI  :  10.14456/easr.2017.9

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The extant literature on composites has downplayed the merits of orange peel particulates (OPPs) and coconut shell particulates (CSPs) as fillers in mixed forms despite their engineering purposes. An OPP-CSP mixture can be used to suppress the weight disadvantage of CSPs, exploit the water resistance advantage of CSP, enhance the mechanical properties and improve the wear resistance of OPPs as a result of the oily secretions of the OPP. Launching a new research direction of mixed filler experiments, this work examines the water absorption properties of mixed OPPs-CSPs of up to 30 cm3 mixtures by volume, according to filler literature norms and previous sensitivity tests. A principal result is that the average free swell of the particulate blend increased up to 164.61%, a value attained with an initial volume of CSPs equal to 10 cm3 in a combined initial volume of 30 cm3. Thus, the mixing ratio is 10 CSPs:20 OPPs (Type I). This free swell value can cause considerable changes to loadings and structures, which is a negative outcome. Sensitivity analysis showed that the higher-OPPs-in-particulate blend produced the most favourable free swell values. In practice, the findings of this study meet the growing needs of the composite industry for materials having unusual combinations of the properties of water-resistance for lightweight applications in tennis rackets, household interior decorations and agricultural silos. This novel contribution pioneers efforts to produce filler blends of particulate orange peels and coconut shells in independently varied proportions rather than being embedded in composites. Sensitivity analysis of the critical process parameters was carried out to understand the degree of responsiveness of model parameters of the blends. This is the first time such information has been reported in the literature.

【 授权许可】

Unknown