Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Physico-chemical and mechanical properties of coir-coconut husk reinforced LDPE composites: influence of long term acid ageing

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Iranian Polymer Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This work investigates the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of coir-coconut husk powder reinforced low-density polyethylene composites exposed to an aggressive (acidic) environment. The composites were prepared by the melt mixing moulding method. The fabricated composites were immersed in an acidic environment of pH 2.2 for a period of 27, 54, and 81 days. Two variants of samples were prepared namely: unreinforced samples (C1) and reinforced samples (C2). The unreinforced polymer samples (C1) were obtained before ageing (C1-0d), and after ageing (C1-27d, C1-54d, and C1-81d), and also, the reinforced polymer samples (C2) were obtained before ageing (C2-0d), and after ageing (C2-27d, C2-54d and C2-81d). Hardness, X-ray diffraction (XRD), friction, wear, and water absorption studies were carried out on the samples. From the experimental results, after immersion in the acidic solution for 27, 54, and 81 days, the hardness values of samples C1 (acid-aged variants) increased by 12.3, 19.4, and 31.5% with hardness values of 16.53 Hv, 18.0 Hv, and 21.7 Hv, respectively. For C2 samples, the hardness value increased by 6.50% and 17.3% after immersion in the acidic solution for 27 and 54 days with increments from 35.47 Hv (hardness value for C2-0d sample) to 37.93 Hv and 42.87 Hv, respectively. The crystallinity of the LDPE polymer- C2-54d sample, indicates its increasing strength since the intermolecular bonding is more significant in the crystalline phase. The study concluded that acid ageing has a noticeable influence on the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of coir-coconut husk powder reinforced low-density LDPE composites.

Graphical abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The raw/processed data required to reproduce these findings cannot be shared at this time as the data also form part of an ongoing study.

References

  1. Masuelli M (2013) Introduction of fibre-reinforced polymers-concepts, properties and processes. Fiber Reinf Polym Technol Appl Concrete Repair 6:132–140

    Google Scholar 

  2. Parveen S, Rana S, Fangueiro R (2017) Macro-and nanodimensional plant fiber reinforcements for cementitious composites. Sustain NonconvlConst Mater Inorg Bond Fiber Compos 2017:343–382

    Google Scholar 

  3. Shah DU, Schubel PJ, Licence P, Clifford MJ (2012) Hydroxyethylcellulose surface treatment of natural fibres: the new ‘twist’in yarn preparation and optimization for composites applicability. J Mater Sci 47:2700–2711

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Shah DU (2013) Developing plant fibre composites for structural applications by optimising composite parameters: a critical review. J Mater Sci 48:6083–6107

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Boz M, Kurt A (2007) The effect of Al2O3 on the friction performance of automotive brake friction materials. Tribol Int 40:1161–1169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Neslušan M, Minárik P, Grenčík J, Trojan K, Zgútová K (2019) Non-destructive evaluation of the railway wheel surface damage after long-term operation via Barkhausen noise technique. Wear 420:195–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Cai P, Wang Y, WangT WQ (2015) Effect of resins on thermal, mechanical and tribological properties of friction materials. Tribol Int 87:1–10

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Zhen-Yu W, Jie W, Feng-Hong C, Yun-Hai M, Singh T, Fekete G (2019) Influence of banana fiber on physicomechanical and tribological properties of phenolic based friction composites. Mater Res Express 6:075103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Abdollah MFB, Shuhimi FF, Ismail N, Amiruddin H, Umehara N (2015) Selection and verification of kenaf fibres as an alternative friction material using Weighted Decision Matrix method. Mater Des 67:577–582

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Ma Y, Wu S, Zhuang J, Tong J, Xiao Y, Qi H (2018) The evaluation of physio-mechanical and tribological characterization of friction composites reinforced by waste corn stalk. Materials 11:901

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Md JA, Saibalaji MA, Liu Y (2019) Characterization of alkaline treated areva javanica fiber and its tribological performance in phenolic friction composites. Mater Res Express 6:115307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Etaati A, Mehdizadeh SA, Wang H, Pather S (2014) Vibration damping characteristics of short hemp fibre thermoplastic composites. J Reinf Plast Compos 33:330–341

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Agunsoye JO, Isaac TS, Samuel SO (2012) Study of mechanical behaviour of coconut shell reinforced polymer matrix composite. J Miner Mater Char Eng 11:774–779

    Google Scholar 

  14. Obada DO, Dodoo-Arhin D, Jimoh A, Abdullahi A, Bansod ND, Iorpenda MJ, Ochuokpa EO (2020) The effect of acid aging on the mechanical and tribological properties of coir-coconut husk-reinforced low-density polyethylene composites. Polym Bull 78:3489–3508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Zegaoui A, Derradji M, Ma RK, Cai WA, Medjahed A, Liu WB, Dayo AQ, Wang J, Wang GX (2018) Influence of fiber volume fractions on the performances of alkali modified hemp fibers reinforced cyanate ester/benzoxazine blend composites. Mater Chem Phys 213:146–156

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Obada DO, Kuburi LS, Dauda M, Umaru S, Dodoo-Arhin D, Balogun MB, Iliyasu I, Iorpenda MJ (2020) Effect of variation in frequencies on the viscoelastic properties of coir and coconut husk powder reinforced polymer composites. J King Saud Univ Eng Sci 32:148–157

    Google Scholar 

  17. Obada DO, Kuburi LS, Dauda M, Dodoo-Arhin D, Iorpenda MJ, Hou Y, Balogun MB, Iliyasu I, Umaru S, Bansod ND, Jimoh AA (2019) Microstructural evolution and hardness properties of coir-coconut husk powder reinforced polymer composites subjected to an acidic environment. Procedia Manuf 35:737–742

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Ndé HS, Tamfuh PA, Clet G, Vieillard J, Mbognou MT, Woumfo ED (2019) Comparison of HCl and H2SO4 for the acid activation of a cameroonian smectite soil clay: palm oil discolouration and landfill leachate treatment. Heliyon 5:e02926

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Rahman MM, Khan MA (2007) Surface treatment of coir (Cocos nucifera) fibers and its influence on the fibers’ physico-mechanical properties. Compos Sci Technol 67:2369–2376

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Karthikeyan A, Balamurugan K, Kalpana A (2014) The effect of sodium hydroxide treatment and fiber length on the tensile property of coir fiber-reinforced epoxy composites. Sci Eng Compos Mater 21:315–321

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Chee CY, Song NL, Abdullah LC, Choong TS, Ibrahim A, Chantara TR (2012) Characterizationof mechanical properties: low-density polyethylene nanocomposite using nanoalumina particleas filler. J Nanomater 2012:118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Banna S, Agarwal A, Cunge G, Darnon M, Pargon E, Joubert O (2012) Pulsed high-density plasmas for advanced dry etching processes. J Vac Sci Technol A 30:040801

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Akderya T, Özmen U, Baba BO (2021) Revealing the long-term ageing effect on the mechanical properties of chicken feather fibre/poly (lactic acid) Biocomposites. Fiber Polym 22:2602–2611

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Junek M, Svobodova M, Horvath J, Mara V (2022) The effect of long-term ageing on microstructural properties and laves phase precipitation of welded P91 and P92 steels. Steel Res Int 93:2100311

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Fan Y, Han HG, Bao JY, Wang XY, Hong C, Liu TG, Lu YH, Shoji T (2021) Effects of long-term thermal aging on elevated temperature deformation behaviors of wrought 316LN stainless steel by small punch test. Mater Charact 182:111580

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Liu Y, Zhang X, Song C, Zhang Y, Fang Y, Yang B, Wang X (2015) An effective surface modification of carbon fiber for improving the interfacial adhesion of polypropylene composites. Mater Des 88:810–819

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Jia BB, Li TS, Liu XJ, Cong PH (2007) Tribological behaviors of several polymer–polymer sliding combinations under dry friction and oil-lubricated conditions. Wear 262:1353–1359

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Chowdhury MA, Nuruzzaman D, Roy BK, Islam A, Hossain Z, Hasan MR (2013) Experimental investigation of friction coefficient and wear rate of stainless steel 202 sliding against smooth and rough stainless steel 304 couter-faces. Frict Wear Res 1:34–41

    Google Scholar 

  29. Mikhin NM, Lyapin KS (1970) Hardness dependence of the coefficient of friction. Soviet Phys J 13:317–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Ravikumar N, Tamilarasan TR, Rajendran R (2021) Effect of graphene on friction and wear behavior of friction composite tested against grey cast iron disc alloyed with copper. Carbon Trends 3:100031

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Kubiri LS, Dauda M, Obada DO, Umaru S, Dodoo-Arhin D, Iliyasu I, Balogun MB, Mustapha S (2017) Effects of coir fiber loading on the physio-mechanical and morphological properties of coconut shell powder filled low density polyethylene composites. Procedia Manuf 7:133–144

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria for providing facilities to carry out this study. The authors wish to also acknowledge TETFund Nigeria for supporting this research through a training workshop under a TETFund grant with reference: NRF_SETI_HSW_00714, 2020. All the participants of the 1st and 2nd training workshops hosted by the Multifunctional Materials Research Laboratory, Shell Office Complex, Department of Mechanical Engineering, and the Africa Centre of Excellence on New Pedagogies in Engineering Education (ACENPEE), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, are duly acknowledged for their useful contributions to this article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

    David Olubiyi Obada, Kazeem Adeniyi Salami, Ayodeji Nathaniel Oyedeji, Fidelis Ujor Ocheme, Chibuzor Austin Okafor & Samaila Umaru

  2. Africa Centre of Excellence on New Pedagogies in Engineering Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

    David Olubiyi Obada & Ayodeji Nathaniel Oyedeji

  3. Multifunctional Materials Laboratory, Shell Office Complex, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria

    David Olubiyi Obada, Kazeem Adeniyi Salami & Ayodeji Nathaniel Oyedeji

  4. Physics Department, Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny, Rivers State, Nigeria

    Chijioke Aloysius Egbo

Authors
  1. David Olubiyi Obada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kazeem Adeniyi Salami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ayodeji Nathaniel Oyedeji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Fidelis Ujor Ocheme
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chibuzor Austin Okafor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Samaila Umaru
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Chijioke Aloysius Egbo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David Olubiyi Obada.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Obada, D.O., Salami, K.A., Oyedeji, A.N. et al. Physico-chemical and mechanical properties of coir-coconut husk reinforced LDPE composites: influence of long term acid ageing. Iran Polym J 32, 115–123 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-022-01111-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-022-01111-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation