Study of mechanical and thermal behavior of alkali modified groundnut shell powder reinforced ABS composites

Current study employs reinforcement of untreated (GSP) and alkali treated groundnut shell powder (T-GSP) to the thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) matrix for the fabrication of composites. Interactions of alkali to the cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin of T-GSP was confirmed from the ATR-IR analysis. The most significant tensile strength (54.78 MPa) and modulus (2.78 GPa) was reported for 20 wt% T-GSP reinforced ABS composite. Additionally, greatest flexural strength and modulus of 88.30 MPa and 7.80 GPa was recorded for the composite constitutes 20 wt% T-GSP and 80 wt% ABS. The highest and lowest notched impact strength of 15.85 kJ/m(2) and 13.52 kJ/m(2) were reported for the composites consist of 10 and 20 wt% of T-GSP. Composite 20/80 T-GSP/ABS exhibited highest shore D hardness value of 90. Morphology was studied using FE-SEM characterization and reports excellent wetting of T-GSP particles from ABS. Composites reinforced with 10 wt% of T-GSP exhibited highest (similar to 269 degrees C) while one reinforced with 20 wt% of the T-GSP showed lowest thermal degradation point (similar to 259 degrees C) throughout the temperature range. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) analysis shows an increment (1-6 degrees C) in the glass transition temperature of all the composites compared to pristine ABS irrespective of treatment.

Automated summary

This study reinforced thermoplastic acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) matrix with untreated and alkali treated groundnut shell powder (T-GSP), finding that 20% T-GSP reinforced ABS composite showed the highest strength and modulus. Additionally, composites reinforced with 10% and 20% T-GSP exhibited the highest and lowest impact strength, respectively.