Title:
FABRICATION, MECHANICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF AGBA (PRIORIA BALSAMIFERA) SAWDUST REINFORCED POLYESTER COMPOSITE

Authors:
Obogai L.E, Vandi Z. Njelle, S.A. Chukwunwike and Obidimma D Ikeh

Abstract:
Agba sawdust/unsaturated polyester resin composites have been fabricated using 0wt%, 10wt%, 20wt% and 30wt% of sawdust. The unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) was mixed with treated agba sawdust to produce the composites. The effect of filler loading on mechanical and physical properties of the composites was studied. The results showed that both tensile and flexural strengths of the composites decreased with increasing filler contents. This is as a result of increase in the interfacial area which worsens the interfacial bonding between the sawdust and the polyester. The tensile and flexural moduli of the composites have their peaks at 20wt% sawdust. There was a sharp drop in moduli at 30wt% filler. The water absorption test result showed increasing percentage water absorption as the sawdust content increases. The progressive increase in percentage water absorption is as a result of hydrophilic nature of sawdust.

Keywords:
Absorption, mechanical properties, unsaturated polyester resin, mould, sawdust