ABSTRACT
This study is about the production and characterization of epoxy-rice husk
ash composite. Composites were produced at 10%,20%,30%,40% and 50%
volume fraction of Rice Husk Ash(RHA) fillers and the epoxy was cast neat at
0%RHA which served as the control .The microstructure of the composites were
studied with Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray
Spectroscopy(EDX).Mechanical properties of the composites such as tensile
properties(tensile stress, tensile strain, Young’s modulus, tensile strength and
percentage elongation at fracture),compressive strength, toughness, flexural
strength and hardness were experimentally determined in the engineering
labouratory using hounsfield (monsanto) tensometer, charpy v-notch impact
testing machine, flexural testing machine and Rockwell hardness testing machine.
The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that interfacial
interactions existed between the rice husk ash particles and the epoxy matrix.
Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) analysis indicated that interfacial
reactions existed between the epoxy matrix and the rice husk ash particles
because the composites did not contain homogenous elements. However each of
the composites contained C,O,Si and Cl while the cast neat epoxy(control)
contained C,O and Cl. Results of the mechanical property tests showed low gain
in hardness, toughness, flexural strength and Young’s modulus. The tensile
properties showed: that at 40%RHA the highest tensile strength of 37.006MPa was
obtained, the cast neat epoxy (control 0%RHA) had the best Young’s modulus of
356.538MPa and percentage elongation at fracture improved from 1.3% to 2.0%
as volume fraction of rice husk ash increased from 0% to 10%,20%,30%,40% and
50%.Increasing the volume fraction of rice husk ash from 0% to 10%,
20%,30%,40% and 50% led to decrease of these mechanical properties: toughness
from 2.0J to 0.3J,hardness from 344hardness value to 144 hardness value and
flexural strength from 6.0Mpa to 1.50Mpa.There was significant improvement in
the compressive strength of the composites from 15.75MPa to 18.75MPa as the
volume fraction of rice husk ash increased from 0% to 10%,20%,30%,40% and
50%.It was deduced from the study that epoxy-rice husk ash composite is
suitable for engineering applications subjected to compression. Surface coating of
rice husk ash could be used to improve its adhesion to the epoxy matrix in order
to enhance the mechanical properties of the composites for other engineering
applications.
BENNERTH, N (2021). Microstructure And Mechanical Properties Of Epoxy – Rice Husk Ash Composite. Afribary. Retrieved from https://tracking.afribary.com/works/microstructure-and-mechanical-properties-of-epoxy-rice-husk-ash-composite
BENNERTH, NNAJI "Microstructure And Mechanical Properties Of Epoxy – Rice Husk Ash Composite" Afribary. Afribary, 14 May. 2021, https://tracking.afribary.com/works/microstructure-and-mechanical-properties-of-epoxy-rice-husk-ash-composite. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.
BENNERTH, NNAJI . "Microstructure And Mechanical Properties Of Epoxy – Rice Husk Ash Composite". Afribary, Afribary, 14 May. 2021. Web. 27 Nov. 2024. < https://tracking.afribary.com/works/microstructure-and-mechanical-properties-of-epoxy-rice-husk-ash-composite >.
BENNERTH, NNAJI . "Microstructure And Mechanical Properties Of Epoxy – Rice Husk Ash Composite" Afribary (2021). Accessed November 27, 2024. https://tracking.afribary.com/works/microstructure-and-mechanical-properties-of-epoxy-rice-husk-ash-composite