Impact of Fibre Reinforced Polyester Composites on Tensile Strength of Baobab (Adansonia digitata) Stem

Abstract

Baobab plant also known as Adansonia digitata was used to extract the natural
fibre, bast fibre was separated from the core mechanically. The bast fibre was
retted by water, washed, dried and combed. A portion of the fine baobab fibre
was separately treated with caustic soda (NaOH) and benzoyl peroxide prior to
composites fabrication. Untreated baobab fibre was also used to prepare the
composites to serve as a control. Both treated and untreated baobab fibre were
subjected to Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis to confirm
the modification effect. Composites of treated and untreated baobab fibre
reinforced polyester were prepared by hand lay-up technique using a dumb bellshaped
mould, cobalt octanoate as a catalyst and Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide
(MEKP) as an accelerator. Mechanical properties of this synthetic composite
were calculated using American Society's tensile in material manufacturing
(ASTM) specifications. The cured composites were subjected to tensile strength,
chemical resistance and water absorption tests. However, Scanning Electronic
Microscopy (SEM) was used to determine the surface morphology of the
synthesised composite samples analysis were used The results obtained shows
an improvement in all the properties tested on alkali-treated and benzoylated
baobab-fibre polyester composites.