Mechanical characterization of wood

apple and coconut shell reinforced hybrid

composites
Cite as: AIP Conference Proceedings 2247, 040001 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0003833
Published Online: 16 July 2020

Vinod V. Rampur, Ashok R. Banagar, U. L. Ganesh, C. V. Srinivas, and S. C. Reur.

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© 2020 Author(s).
 Mechanical Characterization of Wood Apple and Coconut
Shell Reinforced Hybrid Composites
Vinod V. Rampur1, Ashok R. Banagar1, 1,a)U. L.GANESH, C. V.Srinivas2
and S. C. Reur3.
1
assistant Professor, Department Of Mechanical Engineering, Pesitm, Shivamogga – 577 204, Karnataka, India
2
professor, Department Of Mechanical Engineering, Gmit, Davanagere –577 002, Karnataka, India.
3
professor, Department Of Industrial And Production Engineering, Pdace, Kalburgi–585 102. Karnataka, India.
a)
Corresponding author:[email protected]

Abstract:Coconut shell and wood apple shells are the two non-consumable (non-food/ protective)parts in the coconut and wood
apple fruits. Immense availability of these shells in the Asian countries will produces the maximum amount of agro wastes. But
these two shells have high potential due to their high strength and modulus properties. Coconut and wood apple shell powders
exhibit praiseworthy characteristics as compared to other material powders such as low cost, environmental friendliness,
renewability, high strength to weight ratio, low density and less abrasion to machine. As these shells are very much hard, they
exhibit better strength when used in composites as additives. The components were made by mixing coconut shell powder, wood
apple shell powder and epoxy resin at different and definite ratios and they were tested for mechanical properties. In the present
work, fabrication of coconut, wood apple shell powder reinforced epoxy composites and experimental investigation of
mechanical properties have been discussed. Six different percentages of coconut shell powder (0%, 3%, 6%, 9%, 12% and 15%)
and wood apple powders (30%, 27%, 24%, 21% 18% and 15%) with epoxy resin are made to fabricate composites and results
were analyzed. Obtained results indicates that, with 15% CNS and WAS have exhibited better tensile and compressive properties
among all other combinations, composites with 3% CNS + 27% WAS powder reinforcements have shown better flexural
properties and composites with 0% CNS + 30% WAS powder have shown good results for impact strength tests.
Key Words:Coconut shell powder, Wood apple shell powder, Mechanical properties, Hybrid composites

INTRODUCTION

Coconut is an important plantation and business (cash) crop with diverse end - applications, grown in many states of
India. In India, coconut trees/plantations were grown in an area of 1.90 lakh hectare, producing 147440 lakh
coconuts with a per hectare productivity of 7,747 coconuts. Kerala’s contribution in area as well as production of
coconut in the country is decreasing over time [1]. Figure 1 shows the coconut tree and figure 2 shows the different
parts of the coconut tree with their names.

Figure 1.Main parts of Coconut Tree Figure 2.All parts of Coconut Tree

Advances in Mechanical Design, Materials and Manufacture

AIP Conf. Proc. 2247, 040001-1–040001-10; https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0003833
Published by AIP Publishing. 978-0-7354-2006-9/$30.00

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“KalpaVriksha” is the Sanskrit name for coconut palm tree; it means “the tree which provides all the fundamental
need of human life”. In day todays life human can use every part of the coconut tree for different applications. The
sweet cake called as raw kernel (endosperm) (as shown in figure 3) can be eaten directly or used in most cooking
recipes. Coconut oil could be extracted by crushing the “Copra” (which is the dried meat of kernels) of coconut.

Figure 3. Parts of Coconut Fruit

Coconut contributes to more than 8,30,000 lakh rupees to the India’s GDP and about 6 % to the edible coconut oil
pool. Similarly, the coconut industries help to earn foreign exchange to the tune of 1,30,000 lakh per year by
exporting coconut and coconut byproducts. Besides, coconut is a continual source for raw materials to a number of
other industries like oil milling, coir and coir-based industries. Much potential exists for shell charcoal, shell
powder, coconut milk powder, etc. Coconut processing and other associated industries provide continuous
employment to nearly 8 lakhs workers of which 80 % are women folk.

Productivity of coconuts in INDIA increased to 11516 fruits per hectare in 2017-18 as compared to 10122 in 2013-
14. Between the years 2014 - 2018, 13,117 hectares were brought under new coconut plantation as compared to
9,561 hectares during 2010-2014.

EXPERIMENTAL WORK

Materials Used

This chapter describes specification and properties of materials used as filler and matrix. This chapter covers the
methods adopted for processing composites with varying content of the filler. In the present work Titanium dioxide
is used as the filler with Lapox L-12 epoxy resin as a matrix system and K-6 hardener .This chapter also covers the
testing methods followed and the procedure of testing.

Fabrication of composites

Coconut and wood apple Shell Powder:

The coconut and wood apple shellswere dried in open air and grinded into powder using a pulverizing machine, the
powder was sieved in accordance with BS 1377:1990 and BS 1377:1998 standards respectively. The chemical
analysis of both shells was done with Absorption Spectrometer (AAS)-Peck in helm 2006 model. The particle size
used was 300 µm and 280 µm respectively. The pelletized polyethylene waste was sundried and shredded in a
plastic crusher machine. The coconut shell powder and the grinded pelletized (polyethylene) were blended together
using a two-roll rheo mixer at 50˚C and a rotor speed of 60 rpm. The percentage of the filler in the matrix was varied
from 15% to 0% to produce six different compositions for coconut shells and 15% to 30% to produce six different
compositions for wood apple shell. Compression of the composites was carried out through gravitational force at
150˚C. Each of the samples was cooled to room temperature under sustained pressure before it was removed from
the Mould.

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Matrix system (Epoxy resin and Hardener)

The matrix system consists of a medium viscosity epoxy resin (LAPOX L-12) and a room temperature curing
polyamine hardener (K-6) supplied by Yuje marketing, Malleswaram, Bangalore. Epoxy resin was selected as the
material for the matrix system because of its wide application, good mechanical properties, excellent corrosion
resistance and ease of processing. Some details including density of the constituents of the matrix system are listed
in Table 4.1.
Epoxy Resin (L - 12)
Lapox L–12 is a liquid, unmodified epoxy resin of medium viscosity which can be used with various hardeners for
making glass fiber reinforced composites. The choice of hardener depends on the processing method to be used and
on the properties required of the cured composite.

Hardener (K - 6)
Hardener K–6 is a low viscosity room temperature curing liquid hardener. It is commonly employed for hand layup
applications. Being rather reactive, it gives a short pot-life and rapid cure at normal ambient temperatures. Details of
constituent properties as supplied by manufacturer are presented in Table 1.

TABLE 1.Details of constituent properties as supplied by manufacturer

Epoxide Density
Constituent Trade name Chemical name Supplier
equivalent (g/cm3)
Diglycidyl Ether of
Resin LAPOX L-12 182-192 1.262 Yuje
bisphenol A (DGEBA)
Marketing,
Tri ethylene Tetra amine
Hardener K-6 -- 0.954 Bangalore
(TETA)

Size of laminate
A mould of size 280×200×5mm was prepared of stainless steel for preparing Plate samples. Mould consists of a
base plate, frame that could be dismantled to facilitate easy removal of casting after the curing. All the surfaces of
the mould were coated with wax. All the inner surfaces of mould, coming in contact with surfaces of composite to
be cast are smeared with uniform coating of wax in order to facilitate the release of the cast slab. And the weight
calculations for the different combinations of coconut and wood apple shell powders have been depicted in
following table 2.
Volume = Length x Breadth x Height
Volume = 280 x 200 x 5
Volume = 280000 mm2 = 280 cm3

TABLE2.Weight Calculation
Percentage of Percentage of
Percentage of Mass of Mass of Wood
Sl. Wood apple Epoxy (L-12) with Mass of Epoxy
Coconut Coconut shell apple shell in
No. shell hardener (K-6) in in Grams
shell (%) in Grams Grams
(%) (%)
A 15 70.5 15 44.8 70 246.96
B 12 56.4 18 53.8 70 246.96
C 09 42.3 21 62.8 70 246.96
D 06 28.2 24 71.7 70 246.96
E 03 14.1 27 80.7 70 246.96
F 00 00 30 89.7 70 246.96

Specifications
Density of the epoxy = 1.26 g/ cm3
Density of the Coconut shell powder = 1.68 g/ cm3
Density of the Wood apple shell powder = 1.068 g/cm

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 MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION

Tensile Test

The material is cut into specimens with dimensions 260mm x 24mm x 5mm as shown in Figure 4 (a) & (b) tensile
testing as per ASTM 3039/D 3039M [19] specifications (as shown in figure 4 (a)). The tensile strength of the
specimen is determined using digitalized UTM tensile tester with the maximum capacity 10kN. The samples were
tested at a cross head speed of 2mm/min using an electronic tensometer (UTM). The UTM had good set of sensors
to record all varying parameters during the test. Fabricated objects (as shown in figure 4 (b)) will be fitted between
the grippers provided in the moving and stable jaws of the UTM and slowly pulled apart until it breaks. Tensile test
provides the tensile behavior of the material tested in the UTM, in this work tensile strength of the composites made
by coconut and wood apple shell powder.

Figure 4 (a). Tensile test specimen 260 x 24 x 5 mm

Figure 4 (B). Fabricated specimens as per dimensions

Compression Test

A compression test is any test in which a material experiences opposing forces that push inward upon the specimen
from opposite sides or is otherwise compressed, “squashed”, crushed, or flattened. The test sample is prepared as per
ASTM D3410 [20] (as shown in figure 5 (a & b)) and is generally placed in between two plates that distribute the
applied load across the entire surface area of two opposite faces of the test sample and then the plates are pushed
together by a universal test machine causing the sample to flatten. A compressed sample is usually shortened in the
direction of the applied forces and expands in the direction perpendicular to the force. A compression test is
essentially the opposite of the more common tension test.

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 Figure 5 (a). Compression Test specimen 13 x 13 x 5 mm

Figure5 (b). Prepared compression specimens as per dimensions

Flexural Test (3 point Bending)

Flexural strength, also known as modulus of ruptureis a material property, defined as the stress in a material just
before it yields in a flexure test.Flexural specimens were prepared as per ASTM 790/790M standards[21] as shown
in figure 6 (a & b). The transverse bending test is most frequently employed, in which a specimen having either a
circular or rectangular cross-section is bent until fracture or yielding using a three point flexural test technique. The
flexural strength represents the highest stress experienced within the material at its moment of yield.

Figure 6(a). Flexural Test specimen (Dimension = 119.5 x 12 x 5 mm)

Figure 6(b). Fabricated Flexural specimens as per standards

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Impact Test

An impact test is used to observe the mechanics that a material will exhibit when it experiences a shock loading that
causes the specimen to immediately deform, fracture or rupture completely. To perform this test the sample is placed
into a holding fixture with the geometry and orientation determined by the type of test that is used and then a known
weight generally but not always in the shape of a pendulum is released from a known height so that it collides with
the specimen with a sudden force. This collision between the weight and specimen generally results in the
destruction of the specimen but the transfer of energy between the two is used to determine the fracture mechanics
of the material.ASTM-A370 standards [22] were followed in fabrication of composites and are used in the testing
procedure also.

Figure 7(a).Impact Test specimen 64 x 12 x 5 mm

FIGURE 7(b). Fabricatedimpact test specimens as per standards

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Tensile Test

Figure 8depicts the variation in the tensile strength values for different combination of coconut and wood apple shell
powder composites with respect to load. It is observed that there is an increase in the tensile stress for all the cases
studied with increase in the percentage of adding the coconut shell powder with the Wood apple shell powder.
Initially tensile strength was found to be increasing for 0% of coconut shell powder and 30% of wood apple shell
powder. Then little drop was observed for increase in coconut shell powder percentage and decrease in wood apple
shell powder percentage. Then the values were found the be gradually increasing for the increase in coconut shell
powder and fall in the wood apple shell powder percentage. Maximum value of 18.12 N/mm2 the tensile strength
was observed for 15% of coconut shell powder and wood apple shell powder composites

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 Comparison in the tensile strength of all combinations of composites prepared.
FIGURE 8.Comparison

Comparison in the compression strength of all combinations of composites prepared.

FIGURE 9.Comparison

Bending Test
Figure 10 shows variation of bending strength for different combination of materials with respect to load. It is
observed that there is a decrement in the bending strength for all the cases studied with increase in the percentage of
adding the coconut shell powder with the Wood apple shell powder. But maximum value (3.2 N/mm2) of bending
strength was recorded for the composite with 3% of coconut shell powder and 27% of wood apple shell powder.
And least value (2.05 N/mm2) is recorded for 15% of coconut and wood apple shell powder composite.

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 Comparison in the bbending strength of all combinations of composites prepared.
FIGURE10.Comparison

Impact Test

Comparison in the Impact strength of all combinations of composites prepared.

FIGURE 11.Comparison

Figure 11 shows variation of impact

mpact strength values for different combination of composites prepared in this work.
From the above graph it was observed that, impact strength of the composites prepared was found to be decreasing
with the increase in coconut shell powder percentage and decrease in the wood apple shell powder percentage.
Maximum value of the impact energy (0.8 Joules) observed from these composite was recorded for composites
prepared with 0% and 3% of coconut shell powder and 30% and 27% of wood apple shell powder. And least value
(0.4 Joules) of impact energy observed for composite made with 12 to 15% of coconut shell powder and 17 to 15%
of wood apple shell powder composite.

CONCLUSIONS

Stir casting technique used for the fabrication of coconut

oconut shell powder and Wood apple shell powder composites
reveals the following:
1. The interfacial bonding between the matrix material and the reinforcement is stronger of the composites.

040001-8
2. Tensile strength when increasing the percentage of 3% to 15% of coconut shell powder with decreasing the
percentage of Wood apple shell powder.
3. Bending strength is decreasing the percentage of 3% to 15% of coconut shell powder with decreasing the
percentage of Wood apple shell powder.
4. Compression strength It is observed that there is an Increase of Compression Strength 147.25 N/mm2 to 194.87
N/mm2 up to 6%of Coconut shell powder and 24% of Wood apple shell powder, and then the strength decreases
to 141.54 N/mm2 in 9% of Coconut shell powder and 21% of Wood apple shell powder and form that it is seen
that the compression strength is increased up to 195.4 N/mm2 by adding the Coconut shell powder and Wood
apple shell powder.
5. Impact Test increases when the Incresing in percentge of Wood apple shell powder upto 30%.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Authors thankfully acknowledge the Management, Principal and HOD of Mechanical Engineering, PESITM,
Shivamogga for their constant encouragement and support in carrying out this work. Also, authors wish to thank
Principal and HOD of Mechanical Engineering Department for conducting all mechanical tests at GM IT Research
Laboratory, Davanagere and Principal of PDACE, Kalaburgi.

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