Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols.

813-814 (2015) pp 30-33 Submitted: 2015-04-26

© (2015) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland Revised: 2015-05-26
doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.813-814.30 Accepted: 2015-07-14
Online: 2015-11-27

Effect of Chitosan particle addition on the tensile and flexural strength

of Coir fiber reinforced Polyester Composites
S.Rajamuneeswaran1, a* S.Jayabal2, b S.Kalyana Sundaram3, c
N.S Balaji4, d and P.Ramkumar5, e
1, 2, 3, 4 &5
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
A.C. College of Engineering and Technology, Karaikudi-630 004, Tamilnadu, India
a
*email: rajamunees.raja@gmail.com, bemail:jayabalsubbain@rediffmail.com and
c
email:kalyan.lnt@gmail.com demail:nsbalajicad@gmail.com eemail:park.ram555@gmail.com

Keywords: Chitosan particle, Coir, Mechanical behavior, Polyester composite

Abstract. The influence of chitosan impregnation on the tensile and flexural strength of the short
coir fiber reinforced polyester composites were studied in this investigation. The chitosan fillers
were dispersed in polyester matrix, and laminates were prepared by reinforcing coir fibers in
chitosan –polyester matrix. The composites were fabricated by varying filler content, fiber content
and fiber length in three levels and their influence on tensile and flexural strength of the composites
were studied. The composites with fiber length 30 mm, filler content 4% and fiber content 25%
showed better values tensile (23 MPa) and at the same time the flexural strength (28MPa) of the
composite was observed to be better with fiber length 30 mm, filler content 4 % and fiber content
25%.
Introduction
Composites are used as a substitute for structural materials of steel, wood, ceramics and
metals due to their improved strength at small specific weight .They have distinct characteristics
such as low density, high rigidity, eminent strength, and greater specific modulus and ability to be
tailored for specific purposes. Despite the fact that glass fiber- reinforced plastics have excellent
thermal and mechanical properties, due to many environmental problems; the disposal methods for
glass fiber reinforced plastics and their recycling have been seriously acknowledged [1]. This has
resulted in emerging potential for natural fiber composites to become future replacements which
provides advantages such as low cost, easy availability, low density, acceptable specific properties,
ease of separation, enhanced energy recovery, carbon-dioxide neutrality, biodegradability and
recyclability [2 &3].
Environmental regulations and ethical concerns have triggered the search for new materials
that are environmentally friendly. Agricultural wastes which include shell of dry fruits, rice husks,
wheat husk, straws and hemp fiber can be used to prepare fiber reinforced polymer composite [4].
Natural fillers are basic interest of reinforcement materials due to their attractive advantages such as
low cost, environmental friendliness and availability [5&6]. Existing polymers are mainly blended
with different natural based materials with the aim of cost reduction. The impregnation of filler in
natural fiber reinforced polymer composites has shown better improvement in the mechanical
properties of the composites. [7-8]. Keeping this fact in mind, this investigation aimed at improving
the tensile and flexural strength of the composites by means of impregnating chitosan filler in the
coir fiber reinforced polyester composites.
Experimental Procedure
Materials: The coir fibers were purchased from the local markets in Singampunari, Tamil Nadu in
India. Unsaturated polyester resin (with 42% styrene contents and 3% fumed silica flash point 35
˚C, density: 1.11–1.23 g/cm3), was used as matrix material. Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP)
and Cobalt octate purchased from Seenu & Co limited, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India, were uses as
accelerator and catalyst. Chitosan derived the shell of shrimp was used as filler material. The shells
of shrimp, instead of going as waste; it is used as reinforced filler for coir fiber reinforced polyester

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 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 813-814 31

composites. The high calcium (90 %) content present in chitosan particles can improve the
mechanical strength of the composites.
Composite Preparation: Compression molding machine was used to prepare chitosan impregnated
coir polyester composites. The composites were prepared as per full factorial design of experiments.
The filler content, fiber content and fiber length were varied in three levels as given in Table.1.The
chitosan filler was mixed with resin system and blended using simple mechanical stirring at 20 rpm
for 10 min in the room temperature. The short coir fiber was than reinforced in the chitosan -
polyester matrix. A stainless steel mould having the size of 300 × 300 × 3 mm3 was used for
composite plate fabrication. The mould was kept under the load of 2.6 MPa for about 45 minutes in
the compression molding machine and cured at room temperature.
Table 1.Selection of parameters and levels
Parameters/ Fiber Fiber Additives
Levels Length(mm) Content (%) Content(wt %)
Level 1 10 10 2
Level 2 30 25 4
Level 3 50 50 6

Testing of Composites: The composite specimens for mechanical tests were cut from the
fabricated composite. The tensile and flexural fractured specimens after mechanical testing are
shown in the Fig.1. Universal testing machine was used to determine the tensile strength of the
composites. Five individual samples were tested as per ASTM 638-10 and average results were
obtained. Universal Testing Machine was used to determine the flexural strength of the composites.
Three-point bending test was conducted as per ASTM: D790-10. The span to depth ratio of 16:1
was adopted and the samples were positioned in the middle of the supports and loaded at a speed of
1.0 mm/min at ambient temperature conditions.

Fig.2 Photographic images (a) tensile and (b) flexural fractured specimen

Results and Discussion

Tensile Strength of the Composites: Tensile behavior of chitosan filled coir fiber reinforced
polyester composites are plotted in the Fig.2.
25
Tensile Strength (MPa)

20
15
10
5
0
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
S9
S10
S11
S12
S13
S14
S15
S16
S17
S18
S19
S20
S21
S22
S23
S24
S25
S26
S27

Specimen identification

Fig.2 Effect of fabrication parameters on tensile strength

32 Advances in Mechanical Engineering

The addition of chitosan in coir - polyester composites had greater influence on the tensile
strength of the composites. The increase in the fiber length (form 10 mm to 30 mm) fiber content
(from 10 to 25 %) and filler content (2% to 4 %) improved the tensile strength of the composites.
But further increase in the fiber length, fiber content and filler content decreased the tensile strength
of the composites. The minimum tensile strength was recorded for the composites prepared with
fiber length 10 mm, filler content 2 % and fiber content 10%. It is evident from the figure that the
specimen with fiber length 30mm, filler content 4% and fiber content 25% possesses the highest
value of tensile strength. The improved tensile properties of the specimen are due to the filler
impregnation in the composites which provided better bonding strength between the fiber and the
resin. Further increase on wt % of the filler decreases the tensile strength and this may be due to the
poor bonding strength between matrix and reinforcement material.
Flexural strength of the Composites: The plot of flexural strength (Fig. 3) shows an initial
increase in flexural strength of composite up to 4 wt. % of chitosan content followed by that a
decreasing trend was inferred. Therefore 4 wt. % is the optimal chitosan content that could be
incorporated in coir fiber reinforced polyester composite.
30
Flexural Strength (MPa)

25
20
15
10
5
0
S10
S11
S12
S13
S14
S15
S16
S17
S18
S19
S20
S21
S22
S23
S24
S25
S26
S27
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
S9

Specimen identification

Fig.3 Effect of fabrication parameters on flexural strength

During flexural test, the samples were positioned in the middle of the supports and force is
applied from top of the sample. During this phenomenon, top layer of sample endures the
compression while bottom layer goes through tensile loading. The strong binding between matrix,
fiber and filler effectively transfers load from one end of the sample to other end which ultimately
increases flexural strength. When the percentage of filler content exceeds the optimum value,
surface area increases but weight percentage of matrix contents decreases. This weakens the binding
strength and load was not transferred uniformly throughout the specimen which causes decrease in
flexural strength of composites.

Conclusion
The tensile and flexural strength of chitosan impregnated coir polyester composites were
studied in this investigation. The addition of chitosan particles in coir polyester composites has
higher influence on the tensile and flexural strength of the composites. The fiber length of 30 mm,
filler content of 4 % and fiber content of 25 % resulted in better tensile and flexural strength of 23
MPa and 28 MPa respectively. Hence, it is concluded that Chitosan particles is favorable filler for
improving the mechanical properties of natural fiber reinforced composites.
 Applied Mechanics and Materials Vols. 813-814 33

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Advances in Mechanical Engineering
10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.813-814

Effect of Chitosan Particle Addition on the Tensile and Flexural Strength of Coir Fiber Reinforced
Polyester Composites
10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.813-814.30