No abstract

The mechanical properties of raffia palm fibre and groundnut shell particulate/epoxy (RPF/GSP/E) hybrid composites have been studied. Raffia palm fibres were treated with 10% NaOH solution at room temperature, and groundnut shell particulate of different sizes; 75 µ, 150 µ and 300 µ were also chemically treated with 10% NaOH solution at room temperature. The hybrid composite was produced by hand lay-up technique with (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%) reinforcements of raffia palm fibre and ground nut shell particulate in the ratio of 1:1. The treated fibres were taken with required weight fractions laid into the mould of size 200 × 150 × 5 mm 3 . Groundnut shell particulates were also taken with the required weight fraction, mixed with epoxy resin and the mixture was stirred thoroughly before pouring into the mould. Care was taken to avoid formation of air bubbles during pouring and the produced composite was cured under a load of 25 kg for 24 hours before it was removed from the mould. Effects of loading on the tensile, flexural and impact properties of the composite were evaluated. The significant findings of the results were that: tensile strength varied from 1.88 MPa to 9.56 MPa; Modulus of rupture (MOR) varied from 1.92 MPa to 41.6 MPa. While the modulus of elasticity, (MOE) values were in the range of 131.1 MPa to 4720 MPa and impact strength varied from 0.3 kJ/m 2 to 1.6 kJ/m 2 . From the results obtained, the optimum mechanical properties were obtained at 40% loading of RPF/300 µ GSP/E composite. Considering these results, the composite material can be considered as an alternative material for use in automotive interior panels such as boot liner, side and door panels, rear storage shelf and roof cover.

Effects of the processing methods on the mechanical properties of treated bagasse fibre reinforced epoxy composite were evaluated. The composite materials were processed by employing hand lay-up and compression moulding methods and fibres were treated with NaOH solution. The composite samples were subjected to tensile, flexural and impact tests. Based on the findings, compression moulding method produced better mechanical properties compared to the composites manufactured by hand lay-up method. The results showed that the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the samples produced by compression moulding method increased by 77 percent and 47 percent respectively (at optimal fibre loading) compared to those produced by the hand lay-up method. The results also showed noticeable improvements in the impact strength of the material produced by compression moulding method, with impact strength of 11.5 kJ/m 2 against the samples produced by hand lay-up method, with impact strength of 7 kJ/m 2 .

The Impact of Swelling Indices of Sokoto Clays on the Moulding Properties of the Clays in Sand Mixtures was investigated. Four clays (labeled A, B, C, D) from different locations in Sokoto state of Nigeria were sampled. The sampling method was that for each deposit five samples were taken at different positions and then mixed together. At the laboratory they were washed to remove organic matter and then dried at 110˚C in the oven. A laboratory ball mill was used to grind the dried clays. Each of the clay was then sampled for the determination of its swelling index. The determination of the moulding properties of the clays then followed. Only green compression strength, dry compression strength and green permeability, moulding properties were determined. The analysis of the result revealed that clay B has the highest green and dry strength values it had the highest green compression strength of 71.7 KN/m 2 and the highest dry compression strength of 3225.75 KN/m 2 . Clay B also has the highest swelling index of 60% and very high degree of expansiveness when compared to the other three clays. Clay B was followed by clay A with swelling index of 25%; the clay has high green and dry compression strength and a moderate degree of expansiveness. The inability of clay D with swelling index of 40% to be the next clay to clay B which has the highest swelling index of 60% among the four clays in terms of good moulding properties is an indication that high swelling index does not always mean good moulding properties in clay binders.