• 2025-04-25
• O.O. Ilori, A.A. Ojetoye, K.M. Adeleke, M.O. Olorunda, M.O. Julius
• Volume 1, Issue 1

Abstract

The wear behaviour and microstructural characterization of reinforced bio-composite were examined with a view of enhancing its structural integrity. The reinforced bio-composite material was developed through the combination of prepared bamboo, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and glass fiber powders, with epoxy resin serving as the bonding agent. Each of the powdered bamboo, PET and glass fiber was sieved using three different screen grades of 250, 425, and 600 μm, respectively. The results showed that the addition of glass fiber to the reinforced bio-composite experienced lesser weight loss and weight loss increases with increase in the grain size. The volume loss increases with increase in the grain size but the sliding distance decreases as grain size increases. The specific wear rate of the reinforced bio-composite without glass fiber is higher and it increases as grain size increases with and without addition of glass fibre. The addition of glass fiber improved the wear resistance. The micrographs showed that grains of the reinforced bio-composite are uniformly distributed with pores seen at the interface. However, the addition of glass fiber reduced the pores due to its ability to fill the voids between the reinforcing and matrix materials, therefore exhibiting good interfacial bonding between the constituents.

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