Mechanical and structural performance of hardwood charcoal-reinforced polyester composites: Effects of particle size and filler loading
This study investigates the development and characterization of hardwood charcoal-reinforced polyester composites prepared with varying particle sizes (75, 150, 250, and 300 µm) and filler loadings (5–30 wt. %). Hardwood charcoal was milled, sieved, and incorporated into a polyester matrix. Water ab...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Results in Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025001987 |
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| author | Francis O. Edoziuno Benjamin U. Odoni Cynthia C. Nwaeju M. Saravana Kumar Alaa F. Abd El-Rehim |
| author_facet | Francis O. Edoziuno Benjamin U. Odoni Cynthia C. Nwaeju M. Saravana Kumar Alaa F. Abd El-Rehim |
| author_sort | Francis O. Edoziuno |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates the development and characterization of hardwood charcoal-reinforced polyester composites prepared with varying particle sizes (75, 150, 250, and 300 µm) and filler loadings (5–30 wt. %). Hardwood charcoal was milled, sieved, and incorporated into a polyester matrix. Water absorption tests revealed minimal uptake across most composites due to strong filler-matrix bonding and the hydrophobic nature of polyester, with slight increases observed at specific particle sizes and low loadings, attributed to microvoids or weak adhesion. XRD analysis showed a crystallinity index of 75.53 % for the composites, reflecting the contribution of the hardwood charcoal filler (79 % crystallinity) compared to 50.17 % for the unreinforced polyester. SEM-EDS imaging confirmed minimal particle agglomeration. Tensile tests revealed optimal filler loadings for each particle size that maximize UTS, with peaks observed at 10 wt. % (11.43 MPa), 20 wt. % (11.898 MPa), 5 wt. % (12.31 MPa), and 20 wt. % (18.028 MPa) for 75 µm, 150 µm, 250 µm, and 300 µm fillers, respectively. Flexural strength improved with smaller fillers at low loadings (5–10 wt. %) due to uniform stress distribution, while larger fillers and high loadings reduced performance due to voids and weaker adhesion. Optimized filler size and loading effectively enhance the mechanical properties of hardwood charcoal-reinforced polyester composites. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1c171008407d433199e8a9c9aacc6499 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2590-1230 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Results in Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-1c171008407d433199e8a9c9aacc64992025-01-27T04:22:11ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-03-0125104110Mechanical and structural performance of hardwood charcoal-reinforced polyester composites: Effects of particle size and filler loadingFrancis O. Edoziuno0Benjamin U. Odoni1Cynthia C. Nwaeju2M. Saravana Kumar3Alaa F. Abd El-Rehim4Department of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B. 5025 Awka, Nigeria; Corresponding authors.Department of Metallurgical Engineering, Delta State Polytechnic, P.M.B. 1030 Ogwashi-Uku, NigeriaDepartment of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B. 5025 Awka, Nigeria; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, NigeriaGraduate Institute of Manufacturing Technology, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608, TaiwanPhysics Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia; Corresponding authors.This study investigates the development and characterization of hardwood charcoal-reinforced polyester composites prepared with varying particle sizes (75, 150, 250, and 300 µm) and filler loadings (5–30 wt. %). Hardwood charcoal was milled, sieved, and incorporated into a polyester matrix. Water absorption tests revealed minimal uptake across most composites due to strong filler-matrix bonding and the hydrophobic nature of polyester, with slight increases observed at specific particle sizes and low loadings, attributed to microvoids or weak adhesion. XRD analysis showed a crystallinity index of 75.53 % for the composites, reflecting the contribution of the hardwood charcoal filler (79 % crystallinity) compared to 50.17 % for the unreinforced polyester. SEM-EDS imaging confirmed minimal particle agglomeration. Tensile tests revealed optimal filler loadings for each particle size that maximize UTS, with peaks observed at 10 wt. % (11.43 MPa), 20 wt. % (11.898 MPa), 5 wt. % (12.31 MPa), and 20 wt. % (18.028 MPa) for 75 µm, 150 µm, 250 µm, and 300 µm fillers, respectively. Flexural strength improved with smaller fillers at low loadings (5–10 wt. %) due to uniform stress distribution, while larger fillers and high loadings reduced performance due to voids and weaker adhesion. Optimized filler size and loading effectively enhance the mechanical properties of hardwood charcoal-reinforced polyester composites.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025001987Hardwood charcoalParticulate reinforcementPolymer matrix compositeBiochar-based compositesFlexural strength |
| spellingShingle | Francis O. Edoziuno Benjamin U. Odoni Cynthia C. Nwaeju M. Saravana Kumar Alaa F. Abd El-Rehim Mechanical and structural performance of hardwood charcoal-reinforced polyester composites: Effects of particle size and filler loading Results in Engineering Hardwood charcoal Particulate reinforcement Polymer matrix composite Biochar-based composites Flexural strength |
| title | Mechanical and structural performance of hardwood charcoal-reinforced polyester composites: Effects of particle size and filler loading |
| title_full | Mechanical and structural performance of hardwood charcoal-reinforced polyester composites: Effects of particle size and filler loading |
| title_fullStr | Mechanical and structural performance of hardwood charcoal-reinforced polyester composites: Effects of particle size and filler loading |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanical and structural performance of hardwood charcoal-reinforced polyester composites: Effects of particle size and filler loading |
| title_short | Mechanical and structural performance of hardwood charcoal-reinforced polyester composites: Effects of particle size and filler loading |
| title_sort | mechanical and structural performance of hardwood charcoal reinforced polyester composites effects of particle size and filler loading |
| topic | Hardwood charcoal Particulate reinforcement Polymer matrix composite Biochar-based composites Flexural strength |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025001987 |
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