ABSTRACT
Dikanut shell is an agro-waste with huge potential of causing environmental pollution in communities where it is being processed as the kernel is use for food purpose. This research study was carryout to evaluate the mechanical properties of dikanut shell as reinforcement material for epoxy matrix with intension to suit composite materials design in relation to engineering application.
The material for study was locally sources and prepared into two forms namely; the treated dikanut shell composite (TDNS) and the untreated dikanut shell composite (UTDNS). Mechanical properties were carryout to determine their tensile strength, density, hardness and water absorption considering different volumetric fraction ratio of 0%, 10% ,20%, 30% and 40%, with a particle size of 0.3mm.
It was observed that the pure epoxy had a better tensile strength when compared with the different volumetric ratio (0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) for both the treated and untreated dikanut shell reinforced with epoxy matrix.
It was observed that the 40% volumetric ratio of UTDNS has the highest value of tensile strength gotten as 48.084MPa and 40% of TDNS had the highest tensile strength value as 48.082MPa. While for hardness, the UTDNS has its highest value at 10% gotten as 34.28HB and TDNS has its highest value at 10% gotten as 31.80HB. Then the water absorption has its highest value for UTDNS as 3.68% on the 5th day for 40% volumetric ratio and for TDNS as 1.98% on the 5th day for 40% volumetric ratio. The result for density of the UTDNS shows the highest density as 1.44g/m3 at 40% and 2.64g/m3 for TDNS at 40%.
