ABSTRACT

 The project carried out a structural analysis of coconut fibre reinforced cashew nut shell resin composite in comparison with Glass fibre reinforced plastic composite. The objective ofthe work is to compare a test specimen made with coconut fibre reinforced cashew nut shell resin composite with that made with Glass fibre reinforced plastic composite. The coconut fibre reinforced cashew nut shell resin composite was manufactured with 40:60 resin-fibre orientation. Both the resin and the fibre was processed at relatively low cost and the fabrication process was easy and simple. The Glass fibre reinforced plastic composite was also manufactured with a 40:60 resin fibre orientation. The mechanical properties of the coconut fibre composite were improved through alkalization process by treating the fibre with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The cashew nut shell liquid was extracted by soxhlet extraction using acetone as extraction solvent. During this period, acetone evaporates while oil remained in the flask. The cashew nut shell liquid extract was kept on the shelf for three days for decarboxylation process to occur after heating; thus facilitating decarboxylation of anacardic acid. This is the process of converting the cashew nut shell liquid resin into cardanol. The mechanical properties ofCFR-CNSR and that ofGFRP was evaluated and compared viz, the tensile strength bending strength, impact strength and the hardness strength ofthe coconut and fibre reinforced composite material were determined and compared as shown in Table 5.1 and Fig. 5.1 respectively. From the result analysis presented in Fig. 5.1, coconut composite manufactured by hand lay-up process provides an opportunity of replacing existing Glass materials as it has more mechanical strength properties in most cases when compared to Glass fibre which is a synthetic fibre. Also, considering environmental friendliness and the low cost factor ofCFR-CNSR when compared to GFRP during the manufacturing process ofthe same volume and the same fibre matrix orientation. The coconut fibre composite is a good alternative to Glass laminates. Though in terms ofenergy absorption capacity, the GFRP showed a higher capacity when compared to that ofCFR-CNSR. The study recommended that: the coconut fibre must be treated with NaOH so as to enable a good matrix to fibre orientation. The cashew nut shell liquid resin extracted must be characterized, treated and converted to cardanol before it can be used as a binder/reinforcement for any of the fibre. In order to further improve the mechanical properties ofany reinforcement with coconut plant, the fibre volume fraction, fibre condition, application of20% by resin weight additives, fibre length must be duly considered