CHARACTERIZATION OF STRENGTH AND DIMENSIONAL MOVEMENT OF PLASTIC BONDED COMPOSITES REINFORCED WITH Cocos nucifera STEM PARTICLES

Abstract

This study evaluated the strength and dimensional properties of Plastic Bonded Composites produced from the particles of senile coconut stem and plastic wastes. The boards were produced using two different types of plastic binder (polyethylene and polystyrene) at two levels of particle sizes (fine and coarse), three levels of senile coconut stem particles/plastic mixing ratio (1:1; 2:1 and 3:1) and at three density (1000 kg/m3, 1100 kg/m3 and 1200 kg/m3) translating into thirty-six experimental boards. The boards produced were cut into test samples to evaluate the Thickness swelling (TS), Water absorption (WA), Modulus of Rupture (MOR), Modulus of Elasticity (MOE), percentage weight loss during accelerated decay test and percentage weight loss during timber graveyard test. The mean values obtained for yhickness swelling after 24 and 48 hours water immersion ranged from 0.06±0.01% to 2.74±0.02% and 0.09±0.01% to 5.18±0.01%, respectively. The mean values obtained for water absorption after 24 and 48 hours water immersion ranged from 2.19±0.05% to 28.58±0.22% and 2.21±0.06% to 33.10±0.78% respectively. The mean modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity values obtained ranged from 115.98±0.00 N/mm2 to 1105.91±37.26 N/mm2 and 24.75±0.00 N/mm2 to 360.00±10.61 N/mm2, respectively. Weight loss to accelerated decay test ranged from 0.00±0.00% to 26.33±0.59% while weight loss to timber graveyard test ranged from 0.00±0.00% to 100.00±0.00%. TS, WA, weight loss during accelerated decay test and weight loss during timber graveyard test of boards reduces as the plastic binder content and board density increases. The modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity of boards increases as the MR and BD increases.