Tapped density optimisation for four agricultural wastes - Part I: Taguchi technique and mean response determination

Abstract

Environmental concerns are being intensified in composite manufacturing ventures, using agricultural fillers as strategic materials to improve environmentally-conscious performance. In this investigation, which is the first part of a series of papers, four agricultural wastes (particles of coconut, periwinkle, palm kernels and egg shells) were studied for their tapped density optimisation behaviour, being tested independently of matrices. The manual tapping method with measurements applied in successive taps of the cylinder containing the particles against solid surfaces and the experiments were carried out in the laboratory. Taguchi?s method of the ?lower-the-better? (LB) quality characteristic was used in this investigation to describe the performance of the experiments. The optimal parametric settings for the particles of coconut, periwinkle, palm kernels and egg shells were found to be P2Q4R4S4, P3Q4R1S4, P2Q3R1S4 and P1Q4R2S4, respectively. The optimal results would help in attaining good reinforcing fillers with better tapped density properties. The method of mean response investigation showed that either of geometric and quadratic methods of means could be used where the LB quality characteristic is required.