PRODUCTION AND MECHANICAL EVALUATION OF BIO-COMPOSITE MATERIAL FROM COCONUT (COCOS NUCIFERA) SHELLS, PALM KERNEL (ELAEIS GUINEENSIS) SHELLS, PERIWINKLE (LITTORINA LITTOREA) SHELLS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO GRINDING WHEEL PRODUCTION

This report investigates the production and mechanical evaluation of bio-composite material from coconut (Cocos nucifera) shells, palm kernel (Elaeis guineensis) shells, periwinkle (Littorina littorea) shells as an alternative to grinding wheel production. The high cost of these non-biodegradable conventional abrasive grinding wheels and its pollution challenge to the users and their environment has become a challenging situation that requires critical thinkers to proffer alternative. Therefore this research work is a response to the posing challenge. In this report, raw samples of Coconut Shell (CNS), Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) and Periwinkle Shell (PWS) were collected and sorted and pulverized using a hammer mill into different particle sizes of 250, 500 and 850 μ m. These particles were blended at mixing ratios of 75:0:0, 0:75:0, 0:0:75, 40:20:15, 20:40:15 and 30:30:15 of CNS, PKS and PWS as sample A,B,C,D,E and F; bonding with 23% weight of resin as a binder while 2% cobalt compound and methyl-ethyl ketone peroxide. Sample C has the highest compressive strength in the particle size of 0.25mm, 0.50mm and 0.85mm respectively, with the strengths over 5000N/mm2. Sample D, 0.25mm particle size has the highest compressive strength of 3740N/mm2 compare to 0.50mm and 0.85mm and might be the effect grain size and compacting pressure during molding. The highest value of tensile strength is seen in sample E of 0.85mm particle size with 0.829 N/mm2 while the lowest tensile strength is seen in is as result of higher particle size and increase in PKS in the blend. The results show that the production of abrasive grinding wheels from the blend of palm kernel shell, coconut shell, and periwinkle shell is possible.