Preparation, Fabrication, and Characterization of Modified Corn Stover Reinforced Epoxy Resin Composites

Corn stover particles reinforced epoxy resin composites were fabricated using compression moulding technique at a temperature of 130°C and pressure of 2.5 MPa for 3 minutes. The sample was sieved into particles sizes of 300µm, 425µm and 600µm and further modified with 5% NaOH and 50% C6H5COCl solution in order to improve the fibre-matrix adhesion. FTIR revealed a successful modification of the fibre. The result of water absorption showed that, 10 wt.% exhibited minimum water uptake of 1.69%, 0.64% and 1.01% for 300µm, 425µm, and 600µm particles respectively. For density, the reinforced composites showed lower density than control. Chemical tests depicted that 10 wt.% composites for all the particle sizes exhibited an optimal chemical resistance for KOH, benzene and toluene while the composites were not resistant to H2SO4 except in 425µm. For impact strength, the control gave better strength than the reinforced composites unlike in Hardness test, where the highest value of 11 was observed at 20% fibre loading of 300µm. Composites with the smallest filler particle size of 300µm gave better mechanical properties. The surface morphology of the composites was examined using SEM, the micrographs revealed better dispersion in 300µm than 425µm and 600µm composites.