Study of mechanical and thermal behavior of alkali modified groundnut shell powder reinforced ABS composites

Abstract

AbstractCurrent study employs reinforcement of untreated (GSP) and alkali treated groundnut shell powder (T‐GSP) to the thermoplastic acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (ABS) matrix for the fabrication of composites. Interactions of alkali to the cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin of T‐GSP was confirmed from the ATR‐IR analysis. The most significant tensile strength (54.78 MPa) and modulus (2.78 GPa) was reported for 20 wt% T‐GSP reinforced ABS composite. Additionally, greatest flexural strength and modulus of 88.30 MPa and 7.80 GPa was recorded for the composite constitutes 20 wt% T‐GSP and 80 wt% ABS. The highest and lowest notched impact strength of 15.85 kJ/m2 and 13.52 kJ/m2 were reported for the composites consist of 10 and 20 wt% of T‐GSP. Composite 20/80 T‐GSP/ABS exhibited highest shore D hardness value of 90. Morphology was studied using FE‐SEM characterization and reports excellent wetting of T‐GSP particles from ABS. Composites reinforced with 10 wt% of T‐GSP exhibited highest (~269°C) while one reinforced with 20 wt% of the T‐GSP showed lowest thermal degradation point (~259°C) throughout the temperature range. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) analysis shows an increment (1–6°C) in the glass transition temperature of all the composites compared to pristine ABS irrespective of treatment.