Degradation Behaviour of Polyester/Nano-Locust Bean Pods Ash (LBPA) composite

Abstract

An assessment of the degradation characteristics of LBPA reinforced polyester composite after soil burial was investigated. Nano-LBPA was prepared using a Sol - gel technique. The composite were subjected to soil burial test; the role of this test was to study the degradability, effect of microorganism present in the soil and moisture absorption on the mechanical properties of the composites. Impact, tensile, hardness and flexural properties of the composites were determined before and after soil burial tests for 30, 60 and 90days.  Water absorption of the composite was studied for 24hours and their weight loss evaluated. The percentage drop in impact, tensile, flexural and hardness values after 90days exposure were approximately 42%, 34%, 65% and 23% respectively. Tensile modulus decreased approximately up to 57% and flexural modulus decreased approximately up to 41% after 90days. It was generally observed that the weight loss and percentage moisture absorption increases with increase filler loading.