Effect of curing temperature on the mechanical properties of coconut shell nano carbon reinforced composites with epoxy matrix

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the role of curing temperatures at 40, 60, and 80 degrees Celsius with an ageing time of 1.5 hours on the tensile strength, modulus of elasticity and ductility value of coconut shell nanocarbon-reinforced composite materials. The nanocarbon uses a top-down approach with high-energy milling (HEM). This study found that adding coconut shell nano carbon increased the tensile strength by 4.6% from 46 MPa, but the ductility value decreased to 4.2% from 5.28 kJ/m2. The curing treatment of nanocarbon composite gives the effect of increasing the tensile strength by 19.7% to 57.5 MPa, the modulus of elasticity increase by around 16.7%, becoming 3.80 GPa and the ductility value increase by 84% to 9.30 kJ/m2, that occurs at 80 degrees Celsius temperatures. The curing treatment of epoxy resin gives the effect of increasing the tensile strength by 20% to become 55,2 MPa, the modulus of elasticity growth around 10,5% from 2,96 GPa and the ductility value 11% of 5,28 kJ/m2, that occurs at 80 Celsius degrees temperatures.