Thermo-mechanical properties of Napier particles filled polyester polymer

Abstract

In recent years, the incorporation of natural fibers as reinforcing agent in polymer composite has gained increasing interest which enhances optimal utilization of natural resources and particularly of renewable resources. Natural fibers have proven to be suitable reinforcement materials for composite; combination of good mechanical, high electrical (insulating), impact resistance, good thermal and acoustic insulating properties and with environmental advantages such as renewability and bio-degradability, comparable to synthetic fiber reinforced polymer. Hence, for these reasons it has not been surprising that the use of natural materials in the production of composites has gained significant importance in various fields from household articles to automotives. This research is to use Napier grass as filler contents on the properties of Napier filled polyster polymer are to enhance the elastic modulus, strength and toughness without sacrificing the strain to failure and thermal stability of the polyester. The effects of polyester resin with different Napier filler contents i.e 1, 3 and 5wt.% had been studied. Specimens were prepared based on ASTM D695 and ASTM D638 standards for compression and tensile test respectively. However, proliferation used Napier filled polyster polymer have not yet reached their full potential as advanced engineering materials due to several hindrances such as agglomeration particles and poor dispersion dispersion introducing premature failure of the system, weak filler-matrix interface bonding reducing the stress transfer and the understanding of the dispersion of Napier fillers in matrix system. The main challenges is to achieve exfoliation of large stacks of Napier fillers into matrix system keeping in mind the manufacturing process limitations. Various methods of dispersion ( hand mixing, water shaker bath and hot plate stirrer) be investigated to achieve the best mix hence development of a stiffer and tougher matrix systems which improving the resistance to crack initiation and propagation. Napier filled polyester polymer samples were performed at room and elevated temperatures (Room temperature (25 °C), 35 °C, 55 °C and 75 °C) to study the effects of temperatures on polymers. In this research, the results show that the mechanical properties of compression and tensile test of Napier filled polyester were improved in modulus with increasing the filler content. Thermal stability of the Napier filled polyester polymer increased as the Napier filler content was increased. The samples prepared by the hot plate stirrer(rotary mixing) method yielded the highest strength compared with manual hand mixing and water shaker bath (shear mixing). The temperature has even a more significant effect. It was observed that as the temperature decreases the material becomes brittle, has higher stiffness and fails at lower strains. High temperatures have the opposite effect, in that,as the temperature increases the material loses stiffness and becomes more ductile. This result suggests that the Napier filler introduced additional mechanisms of energy absorbtion, improving the mechanical properties.