Fabrication and Properties of Okro Bast Fibre/Unsaturated polyester resin Composites
U.I Hindatua, A.T Suleb, K. S Abdullahib, M. S Matob
a Department of Art and Industrial Design School of Technology, Kano state Polytechnic
b Department of Fashion and Textile Technology, School of Technology, Kano State Polytechnic, Kano
Email: amirgetso@yahoo.com; Corresponding Author: A.T. Sule,
ABSTRACT
Composites of Okro bast fibres (OBF) unsaturated polyester resins (UPR) were fabricated using hand layup technique. The composites were subjected to tests to analyze their physical and mechanical properties. The density was found to decrease from 1.14 to 0.12 g/cm3 as the fibre content increased from 0 to 15%. Water absorption showed increase with increase in filler content and with increase in the number of days in water. The result obtained from the tensile strength, elongation and hardness, of the composites were all found to decrease with increased fibre content .The scanning electron microscope showed fibre pullout and cracks at the interface.
Keywords Okro bast fibre, unsaturated polyester resin, Water absorption, Hardness, scanning electron microscope and composites.
