No abstract

No abstract

Exfoliated graphene nanoplatelets (3 phr) were incorporated into polypropylene with increasing concentration of treated and untreated kenaf flour 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 wt%, respectively, and prepared via melt-extrusion using corotating twin screw extruder. The resulting nanocomposites were characterized in terms of electrical, thermomechanical, thermal conductivity, thermal behavior, heat deflection temperature (HDT), and mechanical, morphological, and structural properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic results demonstrate that the fibers interacted with the matrix and affected the mechanical behavior. The effective thermal conductivities decreased with increasing fiber content, while HDT of the nanocomposites was found to significantly increase, respectively. The electrical properties decreased with increasing fiber content. However, despite the decline in electrical conductivity, the composites were still relatively conductive for applications such as sensors and electromagnetic shielding after fiber inclusion.

Very recently emerging trends in polymer nanotechnology has revealed tremendous upsurge in application of graphene and derivatives in development of multifunctional nanocomposites. In present work, recycled polypropylene filled with increasing concentration of kenaf flour modified with sodium hydroxide/cetyl-trimethylammonium bromide (C-TAB) and filled with 3-phr graphene nanoplatelets (xGNP) hybrid nanocomposites were compatibilized using maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene and prepared via melt-intercalation using co-rotating twin-screw extruder subsequented by injection molding. The mechanical and morphological properties of NaOH-C-TAB modified materials (T-KRPPG) were studied and compared with untreated (U-KRPPG) samples. Transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were applied in characterizing the microstructure and morphology of the materials. Mechanical tests revealed that tensile strength of T-KRPPG nanocomposites were superior in comparison with untreated (U-KRPPG) samples. In addition, the flexural strength, flexural modulus, and Young's modulus of C-TAB treated kenaf xGNP (T-KRPPG) nanocomposites were superior in comparison with the untreated (U-KRPPG) samples. The morphological images of the tensile fractured surface of modified T-KRPPG nanocomposites revealed reduction of microholes and fibres aggregation signifying enhanced xGNPfiber-matrix inter-facial adhesion due to kenaf flour modification with NaOH/C-TAB. XRD analysis revealed exfoliation and homogeneous separation of xGNP in matrix. FTIR analysis revealed no variations in peak positions of xGNP to suggest any significant chemical interactions between xGNP and other componenets.

The gradual decline and short fallen in agricultural food production as demanded by large population in Nigeria and subsequent failure on the price of crude oil prompted this study to diversify the Nigeria economy, through agricultural production by Reengineering rural farmers. The population of the study was 402 rural farmers in the three agricultural zones in Ebonyi State. 195 rural farmers were randomly selected, as the sample size for the study. The instrument for data collection was Re-engineering rural farmers for sustainable agricultural food production for diversifying, Nigeria economy questionnaire (RRFSAFPDNEQ).The instrument was validated by 3 experts two in agricultural education unit in Department of Technology and Vocational Education,one in measurementand Evaluation in Department of Science Education,in Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.Crownback alpha, reliability co-efficient was used to test the internal consistency of the Instrument, which yielded 0.86. The instrument was administered to the respondents with the help of 3 research assistant, one in each agricultural zone, mean and standard deviation was used to answer the research questions. Findings of the studyreveals (1) That, ecological factors favours agricultural crop production in the state. (2) That machinaries for agricultural food crop mechanization are not available for farmers to use in farming activities. (3)That farmer's sources for financing, their, farm is mainly on personal saves.Among the recommendation made was that farmers need to be assisted in the areas of irrigation to encourage them in dry season farming.