CHARACTERISTICS ANALYSIS OF COCONUT SHELL HUSK REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITES

RACT
The effect of Coconut shell powder on the mechanical properties of coconut fiber reinforced epoxy composites is
presented in this paper. Coconut shell powder (filler) at different contents (4 v/v%, 8 v/v%, 12 v/v%, 16 v/v%) and various
proportions (8 v/v%, 12 v/v%, 16 v/v% and 20 v/v%) of coconut fiber (reinforcement) had been used to prepare the epoxy
composites. Composite samples were prepared using hand lay-up method and the test specimens were cut as per ASTM
standards. Initially, tensile, flexural and impact properties of the samples were evaluated. It was found that the addition of filler had an insignificant effect on the mechanical properties. Maximum tensile strength was found as 26.7 MPa at 16 v/v% of coir fiber with 8 v/v% of filler. Flexural and impact properties also exhibited similar trends. Wear test was conducted using a pin on disc method with the velocity of 2 m/s and varying loads of 10N, 15N, 20N and 25N. It was found that the addition of filler reduced the wear rate of the composite but adding the filler beyond 12 v/v% increased the wear rate slightly