Preparation and characterization of epoxy filled snail shell thermoset composite

Abstract

Researches are being conducted across the world with regards to the use of renewable materials as a source of composites reinforcement; this comes in the form of natural fibre or natural source of particulate filler. Against this background, this study has been carried out with a view to exploring the use of snail shell as filler for epoxy resin. The composite samples were prepared using hand lay-up method by mixing epoxy resin with varying (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50) wt % snail shell powder of particle size 150 µm in a fabricated glass mould. Mechanical tests were carried out on the prepared composites to determine the tensile properties, flexural properties and impact strength. The result showed significant decrease in tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength and elongation at break with increase in filler content. While tensile modulus and flexural modulus increased with an increase in the filler content. The maximum tensile modulus was observed to be 430.10 MPa at a 40% filler ratio while the flexural modulus was 2.62 GPa at a 30% filler ratio. The prepared composite may be of use in the production of a table top, tiles for wall, ceiling.