Exploring Material Properties of Vinyl Ester Biocomposites Filled Carbonized Jatropha Seed Shell

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of carbon black from carbonized Jatropha seed shell as a filler that was obtained by furnace method at 600 °C on the material properties of vinyl ester based biocomposites. The biocomposites were characterized for mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties. The tensile strength was enhanced at 10 wt.% loading of filler material as compared to the virgin polymer and higher loading percentage. Flexural strength decreased with an increase in the carbon black loading percentage, while the tensile modulus and flexural modulus showed an opposite trend. Thermogravimetric analysis showed enhancement in the residual content of the composite materials, thereby ameliorating thermal stability. Glass transition and melting temperatures by DSC analysis were observed to increase up to 10 wt % loading of filler but to decrease subsequently at higher loading percentage. The morphological analysis showed smooth morphology with intermittent lumps of agglomeration at higher loading percentages.

Keywords

• Carbon black
• Vinyl ester composites
• Mechanical
• Thermal
• Morphology