Development of composite from bamboo shoots and elephant grass

Abstract

In this work experimental investigation was carried out to study the effect of bamboo shoot and elephant grass at varying weight percentages to modify epoxy resin with addition of steel slag. Physical and mechanical tests carried out are density, water absorption, tensile, hardness and flexural. Tests are conducted on 100 kN servohydraulic universal testing machine under displacement mode of control, digital Rockwell hardness testing machine and impact testing machine. Bamboo shoot and elephant grass fibres at different wt% (15), steel slag wt% (5) are filled in epoxy resin and hardener wt(80). The effects of mixing bamboo and elephant grass fibres on mechanical and physical properties are studied. On the basis of mechanical testing results it is found that sample D containing elephant grass (7% wt) and bamboo fibre (8% wt) mixed  with epoxy is giving optimum mechanical properties. The addition of bamboo shoot  fibre  has improved tensile, flexural and impact properties of epoxy resin and increased water absorption of the material. On the basis of overall study, the epoxy modified with 15% of bamboo shoot fibre is found to be better than other combinations.