The present work deals with the effective utilization of almond shell bio-waste fillers in the production of vinyl ester polymer composites. The almond shell particle surface was chemically modified by alkaline treatment. The almond shell particles with varying weight percentages of 5%-30% were used to prepare the vinyl ester polymer composite. The experimental results show that a 25% addition of alkaline-treated almond shell particles significantly improved the mechanical properties of the composite when compared to pure vinyl ester and untreated almond-filled composite samples. The highest tensile, flexural, impact strength, and Shore D hardness of the 25% alkaline-treated almond shell composite were 54, 142 MPa, 31, and 79 kJ/m 2 , respectively. This was due to the alkaline treatment of almond shell particles, which improved the interfacial adhesion between the vinyl ester matrix and almond particles. The heat deflection temperature of the 25% alkaline treated almond shell particlefilled vinyl ester matrix composite was 72 C. The thermal insulating characteristics of alkali-treated almond shells were improved due to the reduction of quickly thermal degradable materials such as hemicelluloses and lignin, as indicated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic data, and more exposure of minerals to the surface, as confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The addition of alkaline-treated almond shell particles improves the characteristics of the vinyl ester matrix and allows the development of biocomposites. K E Y W O R D S alkaline treatment, almond shell, bio-composite, mechanical properties, thermal deflection, vinyl ester
Increasing demand and resource overuse has prompted the exploration of spent secondary materials as a primary raw material for a variety of applications, leading to a more sustainable environment. Spent electric grid ceramic insulator, one of the waste materials of ceramic industry has a good hardness and strength. It can be reused as value added material in Abrasive Water Jet Machining (AWJM) industry. This present work deals with conversion of electric insulator rejects (EIR) into a cost-effective replacement material for abrasive water jet machining process. Mechanical crushing method is opted to generate the abrasive grit for the machining process. Grit generation pattern and the friability of the electric insulator rejects were determined experimentally. The results indicate that the friability of the processed electric insulator rejects is comparable with the commercially available garnet abrasive. Geometric parameters such as sphericity, elongation ratio, and shape factor for the processed electric insulator rejects were studied using scanning electron microscopy. The machining performance indicators for standard aluminium material such as volume of material removal, kerf angle, surface roughness and cutting width were measured for electric insulator rejects and compared with existing garnet abrasive grain. The experimental results of newly generated electric insulator reject abrasive were matched with performance indicators of the garnet abrasive. The observed deviation was lower proving that it can be used as alternative abrasive in the abrasive jet machining process. Cost analysis and recycling ability predict the economical usability of the newly generated abrasives.
Consumption of coated abrasive discs in various automobile and pipe fitting application is increasing, due to its good surface finish. Coated abrasive disc consists of single layer of abrasive grain bonded to a fibre backing. The major portion of the disc is comprised of fibre backing. But the sustainability of the fibre backing is low and is dumped as waste after usage. The present work deals with the removal of resin coating and recovery of fibre backing from the spent coated abrasive discs using physical separation process such as sand blasting technique. Initially, the recovery experiment was carried out based on L16 orthogonal array. The factors and levels chosen for the experiments were erodent pressure (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 MPa), erodent size (36, 60, 80 and 120 grit), disc orientation (30, 45, 60 and 75°) and number of times flexing (5, 10, 15 and 20). The experimental result shows that erodent size and erodent pressure have a major impact on recovery of the fibre backing. The surface structure of the recovered backing was analysed using scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy. The recovered backing was very much useful for the coated abrasive industry as the flexible backing and support material for abrasive grain coating.
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