Abstract
Waste biomass, in the form of Hibiscus sabdariffa stem fibre (1cm length), was used as reinforcement in a phenoplast polymer matrix to form a composite. The ratio of phenol in the phenoplast resin was varied whereas formaldehyde was kept constant; a phenol formaldehyde ratio of 0.75:1.0 and fibre:resin ratio of 12.7:87.3 were found to exhibit maximum mechanical strength. The comparative mechanical evaluation of the phenoplast and fibre-reinforced composite was performed by assessment of the hardness, modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), stress at the limit of proportionality (SP), tensile strength, compressive strength and wear resistance. The composites were characterized using advanced techniques. It was observed that fibre-reinforced phenol-formaldehyde (PF) composites exhibited physico-chemical resistance and improved mechanical behaviour compared with the phenoplast composite.
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