• 2025-04-25
• A.A. Ojetoye, P.O. Aiyedun, O.O. Ilori, K.M. Adeleke, M.O. Julius, S.P. Ajao, E.O. Baba, B.E. Chinedu
• Volume 1, Issue 1

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of mixture ratio on the physical, mechanical and microstructural characteristics of recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles particles reinforced with sawdust particles. The PET bottles were obtained from waste buckets around Ede, Nigeria and the sawdust filler was obtained from the sawmill dumpsite at Ede. The weight percentage (wt%) of PET bottles and sawdust particles were varied in order to determine the mixture ratio with greater influence although the wt% of epoxy resin and hardener was kept constant. The density of 90 wt% recycled PET bottles particles bonded with 10 wt% epoxy resin and hardener was marginally higher than when it was lower. However, adding, and increasing wt% of sawdust particles results in increased compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths, as well as hardness and impact energy of the composite material. Furthermore, the morphology of the varied mixture ratio revealed voids and cracks that may have reduced the strengths of composite material with reduced wt% of sawdust. The findings showed that increased wt% of bamboo enhanced the engineering properties of the composite material. This study offers significant insights for the creation of sustainable and environmentally friendly composites.

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