Mechanical Properties of Duck Eggshell Powder Reinforced Epoxy Composites - A Study on Effect of Reinforcement

The world produces roughly 7.2 million tons of eggshell waste each year, which is about 11% of the weight of an egg. The leading egg-producing countries are China, India, and the United States7). However, eggshell waste can also contribute to environmental pollution if it's disposed of in landfills. In landfills, eggshell waste can produce odors and encourage microbial growth. However, eggshells can be used in many ways including production of composite materials. Duck eggshells are popularly stronger than chicken eggshells, with a more compact palisade layer and higher calcium content. Since eggshells are a source of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), they could be used as fillers in composite materials to improve the mechanical properties1). Using eggshell waste as fillers can help to reduce waste and increase the strength and wear resistance of the final product. This work aimed, for the first time, to investigate mechanical properties of duck eggshell epoxy composites. Duck eggshell powder is used with epoxy resin to prepare the composite material. Different types of composites are prepared using different wt% duck eggshell powder with epoxy matrix material. The composites are manufactured by simple casting pouring process. Specimens cut and tested for physical and mechanical properties according to ASTM standards. The experimental results substantiate the potential use of duck eggshell powder as a reinforcement filler in polymeric composites, with 12 wt% being the optimal weight fraction for further applications.