Water absorption and thickness swelling behavior of almond (Prunus amygdalus L.) shell particles and coconut (Cocos nucifera) fiber hybrid epoxy-based biocomposite

Author
Arun Kumar Chaudhary1 / Prakash Chandra Gope2 / Vinay K. Singh2

1Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (U.S. Nagar), Uttarakhand 263145, India

2Department of Mechanical Engineering, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (U.S. Nagar), Uttarakhand 263145, India

Corresponding author: Arun Kumar Chaudhary, Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar (U.S. Nagar), Uttarakhand 263145, India, e-mail:  (email)

Citation Information: Science and Engineering of Composite Materials. Volume 22, Issue 4, Pages 375–382, ISSN (Online) 2191-0359, ISSN (Print) 0792-1233, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/secm-2013-0317, April 2014

Publication History

Received:

2013-12-15

Accepted:

2014-01-14

Published Online:

2014-04-02

Abstract

In this research, the suitability of almond shell and coconut fiber as a renewable agricultural residue for the manufacturing of biocomposite to be used as a replacement of wood was investigated. The use of agriculture waste as a reinforcement in composite may result in several environmental and socioeconomic benefits. A biocomposite containing different weight percentages of almond shell particle (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 wt%) and coconut fiber (2, 4, and 6 wt%) mixed with 20 wt% almond shell particles was made using epoxy resin and 0.5 wt% tricresyl phosphate. The water absorption (WA), thickness swelling (TS), and morphology [scanning electron microscopy (SEM)] test of the biocomposite were determined. The rate of WA is less in saline water (SW) compared to rainwater (RW). The influence of the addition of coconut fiber is more compared with the almond shell particles for both the WA and TS.

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