Physical-mechanical properties of palm kernel activated carbon reinforced polymeric composite: Potential as a self-lubricating material

Abstract

Palm kernel activated carbon is one of the potential self-lubricating materials. Therefore, in this study the effect of palm kernel activated carbon composition on the physical-mechanical properties of palm kernel activated carbon reinforced polymeric composite was investigated. The polymer resin was reinforced with 65%, 70% and 75% by weight of the activated carbon and compacted into a die at 70 ‎°C with 20-ton pressure for 15 minutes by using compaction technique. The specimens were prepared for conducting of tensile, hardness, porosity, density and water absorption tests. The 65% sample had the most excellent properties in term of hardness and had the lowest density, but not in terms of tensile test as compared with the other two compositions’ samples. This sample also had proven its superiority in terms of hardness and density compared with that of other synthetic-natural reinforced polymeric composites.

Keywords

• Palm kernel activated carbon
• Composite
• Physical-mechanical properties