Effects of Crab Shell and Charcoal Reinforcements on the Mechanical Properties of Polyester Composites
Abstract
In this work, the effect of particulate crab shell and charcoal reinforcements on the mechanical properties of
polyester composites was investigated. Polyester composites with Crab Shell and Charcoal reinforcements of
varying weight percents ranging from 5 percent to 25 percent with five percent weight intervals were prepared.
These samples were subjected to tensile, impact, hardness and flexural tests. Mechanical tests revealed that
there was a non - uniform increase with the Crab Shell and Charcoal reinforcement additions. The composites,
nonetheless exhibited different maximum properties at specific percentages of reinforcement additions.
The polyester composites with 20 percent weight percent of Crab Shell and Charcoal reinforcements exhibited
the maximum bending strength, and can be considered for applications where flexibility is a major
consideration. Polyester composites reinforced with 20 percent and 25 percent of Crab Shell and Charcoal
particles showed the highest impact strength. These composites can be used in applications where impact
strength is a major concern. The composites with 20 percent and 25 percent of Crab Shell and Charcoal
respectively gave the highest tensile values, while the 15 percent and 10 percent of Crab Shell and Charcoal
reinforced composites were the hardest of all the samples and may be recommended for applications where
hardness is a major consideration.
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