The effect of chicken eggshell (Gallus gallus domesticus) particle size as filler to polyester composite as motorcycle’s exhaust pipe cover material

Abstract

This research was done to know the effect of chicken eggshell (Gallus gallus domesticus) powder particle size on unsaturated polyester resin mechanical properties. The eggshell was mashed and sifted to get the 50 mesh, 70 mesh, 90 mesh, 110 mesh, 130 mesh, 150 mesh, and 170 mesh particle size by using a ball mill. Then, the eggshell was mixed with an unsaturated polyester resin matrix with the ratio of 70:30 and methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP) catalyst as much as 1 % of the matrix mass. After that, it was pressed by using compression molding. The composite formed was characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM EDX), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The physical properties of the composite were analyzed and the mechanical properties were tested. The SEM EDX result showed that the eggshell and composite were made up of Ca, C, and O, and the polyester was made up of C, O, and Si. The composite highest tensile strength and impact strength were at 150 mesh particle size of chicken eggshell powder which is 45.153 MPa and 9. 04 J/m2.