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.