Morphological and mechanical properties of carbonized waste maize stalk as reinforcement for eco-composites

The morphology and the mechanical properties of carbonized waste maize stalk reinforce polyester composites with the aim of producing an eco-friendly composite material showing enhanced properties for engineering applications has been investigated. Carbonized maize stalk ash particles (MSAps) were added in different weight fractions into a polyester matrix at 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. Composites samples were produced from these mixtures and the effect of the carbonized maize stalk ash content on the mechanical properties of the composites was investigated and analyzed. Results from the scanning electron microscope (SEM) of the composites show a good and gradual interfacial bonding as the MSAp content increases while the Energy Dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) show the various compounds/elements present in the reinforcement. The tensile strength, tensile modulus and compressive strength value increases as the carbonized maize stalk ash content increases but there is a gradual decrease for the impact strength. These results showed that the carbonized maize stalk ash can be used to improve the strength of polymer matrix composites for use in automobile and building applications. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.