Synthesis and mechanical properties of pistachio shell filler on glass fiber polymer composites by VARIM process

Abstract

The present study investigated the effect of Pistachio shell particles on the mechanical behavior of chopped glass fiber/epoxy polymer composite. The composite laminates were manufactured using vacuum assisted resin infusion molding (VARIM) method. In this work the glass fiber of chopped strand mat used as reinforcement with density of 450 gsm and matrix material of epoxy resin. The concentration of filler material of pistachio shell particles were selected as 0, 1, 2, and 3 wt% respectively. The high speed mechanical stirrer was used to mix the pistachio shell particles into the polymer material of epoxy resin. The particle size of the powdered pistachio shells was analyzed and morphological studies are carried of the prepared specimens using a Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The addition of pistachio shell particle enhanced the tensile and flexural strength of the prepared laminates. The flexural strength was increased by 14% with addition of 1 wt% of pistachio shell particle.