Enhancing Mechanical Properties of Basalt Fibre Composites with Clamshell Waste from Sea Bed

This study examines the upgrading of mechanical properties in basalt fibre composites through the incorporation of microfiller. Because of their remarkable mechanical qualities and environmentally beneficial qualities, basalt fibres are becoming more and more popular in a wide range of engineering applications. However, to further expand their utility, improvements in mechanical properties like tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact resistance are essential. In this research, clamshell filler, an abundant waste material from seafood processing, is employed as a reinforcing agent in basalt fibre composites. Clamshells are found on the sea water and participate in marine ecosystems. They are derived from dead clams with no flesh in it. The research offers a solution to the disposal problem of clamshell waste by incorporating it into composite materials- a value-added product, offering both material performance benefits and sustainability. Dead clams are used to prepare the clamshell powder which is made into fine powder of 64-90 micron after cleaning and drying process. This size of micro-filler added in basalt fibre through hand layup fabrication techniques. A series of experiments and material characterization techniques are examined to know the effects of varying clamshell filler content (0, 5, 10 wt.%) on the mechanical performance of the composites. Mechanical test like tensile, flexural, microhardness and impact tests are done to evaluate the material's strength, stiffness, and resistance to external forces. The results show enhancements in the mechanical properties of basalt fibre composites with the addition of clamshell filler. The findings suggest that the utilization of clamshell filler can effectively improve the tensile and flexural strengths and hardness of the basalt fibre composites. Moreover, there is an increment of impact resistance which indicates the potential applications of composite in impact-prone industries.