Abstract
This research focuses on the improvement of the mechanical properties of reinforced composites using coir fibre, starch binder resin and carbonized bone dust. This research is geared towards exposing the prospects of the development of composite materials using coir fibre. Coir fibre is one of the most abundantly available natural fibres in the tropical region and is extracted from the husk of coconut fruit. This research discusses the advantages of composites and some of their engineering applications. Many references to the latest work on properties, processing and application have been cited in this research.
The research aims at improving the mechanical properties of coir fibre by adding carbonized bone dust, it also discusses the methodology, from collecting the experimental samples materials[coir fibre, carbonized bone dust and starch resin], to carrying out the design of experiment, construction of the mould which are used during the course of experiment. Design of Experiment (mixture design) using Minitab 20 was carried out to determine the number of experimental runs ( in our case 21) and to determine the optimal composite composition by percentage weight.
From the result obtained, the optimum percentage mix of the composites produced for the compressive test is coir fibre 25.00%, starch binder 60.00%, carbonized bone dust 15.00%, and the optimum mix of the composites produced for the tensile test is coir fibre 25.00%, starch binder 31.6667%, carbonized bone dust 43.333%. The optimum percentage mix of the composites produced for the flexural test is coir fibre 25.00%, starch binder 60.00%, carbonized bone dust 15.00%.
