Improving the properties of epoxy/melon shell bio-composites: effect weight percentage and form of melon shell particles

Increased environmental awareness and consciousness throughout the world have developed an increasing interest in natural fibers/particles and their applications in various fields. Based on the forgoing, improving the properties of epoxy/melon shell particles was investigated. The melon shell particles used were uncarbonized (UCMSp) and carbonized (CMSp). The composites were produced by the hand-laying method. The melon shell particles varied from 5 to 30 wt% with 5 wt% interval. The microstructure was analyzed using scanning electron and atomic force microscope. The properties tested were density, tensile strength, compressive strength, impact energy, capacitance and dielectric strength. The results of impact energy are 4.5, 5.0 and 5.62 J; tensile strength: 3.7 13.7 and 15.6 N/mm(2) obtained at 0 wt% and at 20 wt%; elastic modulus: 456, 1250 and 1320 N/mm(2); and dielectric constant: 5.5, 15.7 and 18.9 obtained at 0 wt% and at 30 wt% for pure epoxy, UMSp and CMSp, respectively. The tensile strength, elastic modulus and impact energy of the epoxy/CMSp composites show higher values than epoxy/UCMSp. The work has established that melon shell particles can be used for increasing the mechanical and electrical properties of epoxy matrix composites for indoor and outdoor applications.