PHYSICO-MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SAWDUST-PLASTIC COMPOSITES

Abstract

The study was done to evaluate effect of some process variables on the physical and mechanical properties of sawdust/plastic composites (SPCs) generated from plastic wastes and sawdust. The sawdust and plastic wastes from relatively thick waste plastics constituted of plastic waste from kegs and buckets (PWT) and plastic wastes from bottled water (PWB) were applied in the study. The experimental sawdust plastic composites were made at sawdust/plastic ratio of 40:60, and 60:40 (% by weight) and particle size classes of 0.5, 0.5 - 1.0 and 1.0 - 2.0 mm. The SPC for each study variable combination was made in 2 replicates. This work was caried out to improve the physical and mechanical properties of the plastic with sawdust, physical properties tested include: water absorption, linear expansion and thickness swelling while the mechanical properties tested were Modulus of Elasticity (MOE), Modulus of Ruptures (MOR) and Compression strength. The experiment was conducted out at nominal density of sawdust platic composites. The investigation was arranged in 3 x 3 x 3 factorial experiment in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and data was analyzed using ANOVA at 5% probability level. The outcome of physical attributes examined showed that SPC created using plastic wastes from bottled water were more dimensionally stable than SPC made using plastic wastes from thick plastics. For particle size, SPC created using particles sizes class of 0.5 mm and 0.5 – 1.0 mm exhibited greater dimensional stability than SPC made with particle size class of 1.0 – 2.0 mm. In terms of combination ratio, SPC manufactured with sawdust/plastic ratio of 40:60 was the highest in dimensional stability while sawdust/plastic ratio of 60:40 was the lowest. On mechanical qualities, the findings showed that SPC manufactured using plastic wastes from bottled water were the greatest in strength properties while the lowest were SPCs made using plastic wastes from thick plastics. With regards to particle size, SPC produced from particle size class of 0.5 – 1.0 mm were the highest in strength qualities compared to SPC produced from particle size class of 1.0 – 2.0 mm. On combination ratio, SPC created using sawdust/plastic ratio of 40:60 was the highest in strength attributes while SPC made using sawdust/plastic ratio of 60:40 was the lowest. Hence, possibility dimensionally stable board has been achieved in this work employing several wastes generated in the environment. This can resultantly enhanced cleaner and friendlier atmosphere if concerted efforts are put in place in making the board on commercial scale.