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Effect of using different chemically modified breadfruit peel fiber in the reinforcement of LDPE composite

  • Rabboni Mike Government

    Dr. Rabboni Mike Government, born 1982, studied chemical engineering and is a research consultant in the Chemical Engineering Department at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, Nigeria.

     EMAIL logo     , Edozie Thompson Okeke

    Engr. Edozie Thompson Okeke, born 1979, studied civil engineering and is lecturing in the Civil Engineering Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

         , Azeez Taofik Oladimeji

    Dr. Taofik Oladimeji Azeez, born 1978, studied chemical engineering and is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.

         , Amechi Kingsley Ani

    Kingsley Amechi Ani, born 1989, studied chemical engineering and is a research assistant in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, Nigeria.

         , Okechukwu Dominic Onukwuli

    Prof. Okechukwu Dominic Onukwuli, born 1955, studied chemical engineering and is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, Nigeria.

         and Raphael Stone Odera

    Dr. Raphael Stone Odera, born 1970 studied chemical engineering. He is an industrialist, and presently a Senior Lecturer in the Polymer and Textile Engineering Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, Nigeria.
Published/Copyright: March 31, 2021
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Materials Testing
From the journal Materials Testing Volume 63 Issue 3

Abstract

This paper was based on the application of novel breadfruit peel fiber (BFPF), a cheap agro-waste as reinforcer in low-density polyethylene matrix (LDPE) to produce breadfruit peel fiber-low-density-polyethylene composite (BFPF-LDPE) for industrial production. To achieve this, the influence of BFPF weight at different treatment routes on the mechanical properties and water absorption resistance of LDPE was examined. The BFPF was modified with sodium hydroxide (MS), sodium hydroxide/acetic acid (AM) and sodium hydroxide/acetic acid/maleated polyethylene (MM). The results showed that the treatment of BFPF with sodium hydroxide/acetic acid/maleated polyethylene gave better properties than composites produced with either sodium hydroxide or combination of sodium hydroxide/ acetic acid treatment, while untreated (UM) composite provided the poorest. This is a result of anhydride radical in MM which is absent in AM and MS. However, the tensile and impact strength for the crude LDPE indicated higher values than UM, MS, AM and MM of BFPF-LDPE composite, respectively. Furthermore, the tensile modulus, flexural strength and hardness of BFPF-LDPE composite after inclusion of UM, MS, AM and MM showed immense improvement as compared to the raw LDPE. The modified BFPF enhanced sorption resistance of the BFPF-LDPE composite. Therefore, the BFPF-LDPE composite of MM can be applied as an alternative material for the replacement of particle board in construction and automobile parts.

Keywords: Composite; properties; SEM; FTIR; agro-waste
Department of Chemical Engineering Nnamdi Azikiwe Universit Awka, Nigeria

About the authors

Dr. Rabboni Mike Government

Dr. Rabboni Mike Government, born 1982, studied chemical engineering and is a research consultant in the Chemical Engineering Department at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, Nigeria.

Engr. Edozie Thompson Okeke

Engr. Edozie Thompson Okeke, born 1979, studied civil engineering and is lecturing in the Civil Engineering Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

Dr. Azeez Taofik Oladimeji

Dr. Taofik Oladimeji Azeez, born 1978, studied chemical engineering and is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.

Amechi Kingsley Ani

Kingsley Amechi Ani, born 1989, studied chemical engineering and is a research assistant in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, Nigeria.

Prof. Okechukwu Dominic Onukwuli

Prof. Okechukwu Dominic Onukwuli, born 1955, studied chemical engineering and is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, Nigeria.

Dr. Raphael Stone Odera

Dr. Raphael Stone Odera, born 1970 studied chemical engineering. He is an industrialist, and presently a Senior Lecturer in the Polymer and Textile Engineering Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra, Nigeria.

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Published Online: 2021-03-31

© 2021 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Corrosion testing
  3. Effects of mixed acid solution on bromide epoxy vinyl ester and its glass fiber reinforced composites
  4. Stress corrosion and mechanical properties of zinc coating on 304 stainless steel
  5. Mechanical testing
  6. Eliminating plasticity effects in the measurement of residual stress by using the hole-drilling method
  7. Fatigue testing
  8. Effect of the galvanization process on the fatigue life of high strength steel compression springs
  9. Materials testing for welding and additive manufacturing applications
  10. Wear behavior and microstructure of Fe-C-Si-Cr-B-Ni hardfacing alloys
  11. Analysis of physical and chemical properties
  12. Structural hydroxyl distribution in jadeite grains and the diagenesis mechanism of jadeitite in Myanmar, Guatemala and Russia
  13. Production-oriented testing
  14. Comparison of processing parameter effects during magnetron sputtering and electrochemical anodization of TiO2 nanotubes on ITO/glass and glass substrates
  15. Mechanical Testing
  16. Effect of hydrothermal aging on the mechanical properties of nanocomposite pipes
  17. Wear Testing
  18. Investigation of the friction behavior of plasma spray Mo/NiCrBSi coated brake discs
  19. Component-Oriented Testing and Simulation
  20. Comparative investigation of the moth-flame algorithm and whale optimization algorithm for optimal spur gear design
  21. Fatigue Testing
  22. Development and application of load profiles for thermal qualification testing of receptacle automotive connectors
  23. Analysis of physical and chemical properties
  24. Structural and optical properties of pure ZnO and Al/Cu co-doped ZnO semiconductor thin films and electrical characterization of photodiodes
  25. Mechanical testing/Chemical resistance testing
  26. Effect of using different chemically modified breadfruit peel fiber in the reinforcement of LDPE composite
  27. Component-oriented testing and simulation
  28. Hybrid spotted hyena–Nelder-Mead optimization algorithm for selection of optimal machining parameters in grinding operations
https://doi.org/10.1515/mt-2020-0041
Keywords for this article
Composite; properties; SEM; FTIR; agro-waste

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Corrosion testing
  3. Effects of mixed acid solution on bromide epoxy vinyl ester and its glass fiber reinforced composites
  4. Stress corrosion and mechanical properties of zinc coating on 304 stainless steel
  5. Mechanical testing
  6. Eliminating plasticity effects in the measurement of residual stress by using the hole-drilling method
  7. Fatigue testing
  8. Effect of the galvanization process on the fatigue life of high strength steel compression springs
  9. Materials testing for welding and additive manufacturing applications
  10. Wear behavior and microstructure of Fe-C-Si-Cr-B-Ni hardfacing alloys
  11. Analysis of physical and chemical properties
  12. Structural hydroxyl distribution in jadeite grains and the diagenesis mechanism of jadeitite in Myanmar, Guatemala and Russia
  13. Production-oriented testing
  14. Comparison of processing parameter effects during magnetron sputtering and electrochemical anodization of TiO2 nanotubes on ITO/glass and glass substrates
  15. Mechanical Testing
  16. Effect of hydrothermal aging on the mechanical properties of nanocomposite pipes
  17. Wear Testing
  18. Investigation of the friction behavior of plasma spray Mo/NiCrBSi coated brake discs
  19. Component-Oriented Testing and Simulation
  20. Comparative investigation of the moth-flame algorithm and whale optimization algorithm for optimal spur gear design
  21. Fatigue Testing
  22. Development and application of load profiles for thermal qualification testing of receptacle automotive connectors
  23. Analysis of physical and chemical properties
  24. Structural and optical properties of pure ZnO and Al/Cu co-doped ZnO semiconductor thin films and electrical characterization of photodiodes
  25. Mechanical testing/Chemical resistance testing
  26. Effect of using different chemically modified breadfruit peel fiber in the reinforcement of LDPE composite
  27. Component-oriented testing and simulation
  28. Hybrid spotted hyena–Nelder-Mead optimization algorithm for selection of optimal machining parameters in grinding operations
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