Effect of Date Seed Granules on the Mechanical Properties of Glass Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Composite

Abstract

In this study, Date Seed Granulated Powder (DSGP) was used as a reinforcement material for Glass Fibre Reinforced Epoxy resin (GFRE) composite. Specifically, the DSGP was prepared and added to Glass fibre reinforced Epoxy composite using the hand lay-up method. The DSGP reinforced GFRE was produced in different weight ratios of 0 %, 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 % and 50 % wt. The mechanical properties of the developed specimens of the DSGP reinforced GFRE composite were investigated using the universal INSTRON tensile machine, flexural testing equipment, Izod impact testing machine (ASTM D256 standard) and Rockwell Hardness testing machine for hardness test. Results of the tests showed maximum values of tensile strength, flexural strength and Hardness Number as 271 MPa, 241 MPa and 97 HRB for the 50, 40, 30, 20 and 10 % wt. GDS samples respectively. Energy absorption capacity (U in Joules) of the samples were also determined. From the results obtained, the best variation of the reinforcement of Glass Fibre Reinforced Epoxy with Date seed granules is the GFR-40 % wt. GDS composition. This study therefore proves that Glass fibre –Date seed reinforced composites are good alternatives to Glass fibre composites, since they gave higher mechanical properties at lower cost.