TITLE:
Effect of Groundnut Shell Powder on the Mechanical Properties of Recycled Polyethylene and Its Biodegradability
AUTHORS:
Mohammed Awwalu Usman, Ibrahim Momohjimoh, Abdulahi S. B. Gimba
KEYWORDS:
Groundnut Shell Powder, Fibers, Recycled Polyethylene, Composites, Mechanical Properties, Biodegradability
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.4 No.3,
May
30,
2016
ABSTRACT: Natural fiber reinforced composites have gained considerable attention particularly in the manufacturing
industry owing to their light weight, corrosion resistance, abundance, and biodegradability.
In this work, alkaline treated and untreated groundnut shell powder (GSP) was used to reinforce
recycled polyethylene to produce GSP-recycled polyethylene composites with improved mechanical
properties and biodegradability. GSP with particle sizes of 0 - 300 μm and 300 - 600 μm
was used in different proportions: 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, and 30% wt. The fiber was immersed
for 5 hours in a 10 wt% NaOH solution. Tensile and hardness test data showed an improvement
in mechanical properties of the treated fiber composites. Results of water absorption
test also showed that treated GSP-recycled polyethylene composites had a lower rate of water absorption
than the untreated GSP-recycled polyethylene composites. Through Fourier transform
infrared spectroscopy, disappearance of characteristics peaks of hemicellulose and lignin was observed.
Growth of fungi on the fiber-reinforced composites was observed, which was evidence that
GSP-recycled polyethylene composite was biodegradable. Finally, SEM micrographs showed uniform
distribution of treated fibers in the polymer matrix; this explained the observed improvement
in the mechanical properties of treated GSP-recycled polyethylene composites.