Open Access

Alkali and Non-alkali Treated Coconut Coir Fiber-Reinforced Coconut Shell Powder/MWCNT-Filled Polyester Matrix Composite: An Experimental Comparison

S. Ramu, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mai-Nefhi College of Engineering and Technology, Asmara, Eritrea Gedion Habtay Gebremicheal, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mai-Nefhi College of Engineering and Technology, Asmara, Eritrea Rajesh Mohan, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Karpagam College of Engineering, Coimbatore, TN, India R. Suresh Kumar, Center for Advanced Material and Testing (DST-FIST Sponsored), Sri Eshwar College of Engineering, Coimbatore, TN, India M. Karthigairajan, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Karpaga Vinayaga College of Engineering and Technology, Chengalpattu, TN, India V. Masannan, Department of Civil Engineering, Shri Jagdishprasad Jhabarmal Tibrewala University, Jhunjhunu, RJ, India M. Yuvaperiyasamy, yuvaperiyasamyvsb@gmail.com
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, TN, India S. Durga Department of Humanities and Science, Rajalakshmi Institute of Technology, Chennai, TN, India

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Abstract

Engineering, biomedical, and medicinal applications effectively employ the extraction of natural resources. Natural and recycled natural fibers are highly advantageous for producing hard-core and soft-core composite materials and equipment. Natural fiber processing can yield diverse material characteristics. Particularly, processes such as chemical treatment, heat treatment, fine coating, and polishing (gold) composites can significantly enhance the characteristics of these materials. A further selection of non-synthetic solutions is designated for material application and environmentally friendly biodegradation to the earth. Due to the non-destructive nature of composites, many synthetic resources are incorporated into the environment, which can lead to corrosion and atmospheric pollution. Therefore, the remarkable movement toward replacing these compounds with natural coconut fiber, whether refined or untreated, shell powder, and composites incorporating multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) contributes to establishing a more environmentally sustainable society. This work included rigorous mechanical testing to compare the effects of alkali and non-alkali treatments. In particular, the tensile strength is 17.06% higher, the flexural strength is 7.35% higher, and the hardness on Shore D is 5.81% higher than that of non-alkali-treated material. The SEM analysis revealed the alkali-treated and untreated composites' consecutive failure zones, regions, and matrix structures.

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