AGGLOMERATES WITHIN BALL-MILLED LIGNOCELLULOSIC PARTICLES USING MINIMUM CRYSTAL SIZES

Abstract

The drive to reduce weight of transport and construction materials has drawn attention of researchers globally towards development of light weight composites. Particle agglomerates create region of discontinuity or weak particle adhesion to the matrix and impair mechanical properties of composites. In nanoparticles synthesis using ball-milling technique, formation of agglomerates can be controlled through milling parameters optimisation. In this study, coconut shell (lignocellulosic) nanoparticles have been synthesised by varying the charge ratios from 2.5 to 40 at constant milling duration (70 hours), speed of drum/vial rotation (194 revolution per minute) and ball sizes (5- 60 mm). Epoxy/coconut shell particulate composites were developed and characterized. Results indicated a reduction in particle sizes below 10 CRs. 100 and 41% increases in tensile strength and impact energy with 8.16 % reduction in tensile elongation was observed at 12 wt% of coconut shell nanoparticle addition. Hence coconut shell nanoparticles are confirmed for reinforcing epoxy for composite productions.