Effect of flexural strength and density properties of sugarcane bagasse reinforced unsaturated polyester composites

As a byproduct of sugarcane processing, bagasse offers a sustainable alternative to conventional synthetic fibers in composite materials. Due to its abundance, low weight, and favorable mechanical properties, sugarcane bagasse has recently attracted increased scientific interest as a reinforcement i...

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Main Authors: Ruslan Shamsuddeen, Aminu Sanusi Haruna, Ziyaulhaq Auwal Abdulkadir, Hussaini Faruq, Ansar Bilyaminu Adam, Musa Yahaya Abubakar, Mohammed Alhaji Usman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Estfalia 2025-07-01
Series:Romanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://rjeec.ro/Read/262?id=Effect%20of%20flexural%20strength%20and%20density%20properties%20of%20sugarcane%20bagasse%20reinforced%20unsaturated%20polyester%20composites
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author Ruslan Shamsuddeen
Aminu Sanusi Haruna
Ziyaulhaq Auwal Abdulkadir
Hussaini Faruq
Ansar Bilyaminu Adam
Musa Yahaya Abubakar
Mohammed Alhaji Usman
author_facet Ruslan Shamsuddeen
Aminu Sanusi Haruna
Ziyaulhaq Auwal Abdulkadir
Hussaini Faruq
Ansar Bilyaminu Adam
Musa Yahaya Abubakar
Mohammed Alhaji Usman
author_sort Ruslan Shamsuddeen
collection DOAJ
description As a byproduct of sugarcane processing, bagasse offers a sustainable alternative to conventional synthetic fibers in composite materials. Due to its abundance, low weight, and favorable mechanical properties, sugarcane bagasse has recently attracted increased scientific interest as a reinforcement in plastic composites. This study investigated the effects of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) weight fraction, particle size variation, and chemical treatments on the flexural strength and density of unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) composites. To enhance the adhesion between the bagasse fibers and the polymer matrix, chemical treatments with 5% hydrogen peroxide and 10% sodium hydroxide were applied. The SCB-reinforced UPR composites were fabricated using compression molding, followed by a 5-minute curing process at 130°C and a pressure of 2.5 MPa. Flexural strength and density were then evaluated. Results showed that flexural strength increased with higher bagasse loading, attributed to improved fibber–matrix intermixing. In contrast, density decreased as fibber content increased; for instance, at 100% UPR and 25% weight of 710 µm particles, the density dropped from 1.37 g/cm³ to 0.55 g/cm³. The composite's low weight, combined with its favorable flexural strength and density characteristics, suggests its suitability for structural applications.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2668-5418
2668-8530
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Estfalia
record_format Article
series Romanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry
spelling doaj-art-cfdb3aa9282044adacb340ac7cd7cecd2025-08-20T03:50:49ZengEstfaliaRomanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry2668-54182668-85302025-07-0171536010.21698/rjeec.2025.105Effect of flexural strength and density properties of sugarcane bagasse reinforced unsaturated polyester compositesRuslan Shamsuddeen0Aminu Sanusi Haruna1Ziyaulhaq Auwal Abdulkadir2Hussaini Faruq3Ansar Bilyaminu Adam4Musa Yahaya Abubakar5Mohammed Alhaji Usman6Federal University Wukari, NigeriaNational Defense College Abuja, NigeriaBayero University, NigeriaCollege of Agriculture Mokwa, NigeriaFederal University Wukari, NigeriaFederal University Wukari, NigeriaUmar Suleiman College of Education Gashua, NigeriaAs a byproduct of sugarcane processing, bagasse offers a sustainable alternative to conventional synthetic fibers in composite materials. Due to its abundance, low weight, and favorable mechanical properties, sugarcane bagasse has recently attracted increased scientific interest as a reinforcement in plastic composites. This study investigated the effects of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) weight fraction, particle size variation, and chemical treatments on the flexural strength and density of unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) composites. To enhance the adhesion between the bagasse fibers and the polymer matrix, chemical treatments with 5% hydrogen peroxide and 10% sodium hydroxide were applied. The SCB-reinforced UPR composites were fabricated using compression molding, followed by a 5-minute curing process at 130°C and a pressure of 2.5 MPa. Flexural strength and density were then evaluated. Results showed that flexural strength increased with higher bagasse loading, attributed to improved fibber–matrix intermixing. In contrast, density decreased as fibber content increased; for instance, at 100% UPR and 25% weight of 710 µm particles, the density dropped from 1.37 g/cm³ to 0.55 g/cm³. The composite's low weight, combined with its favorable flexural strength and density characteristics, suggests its suitability for structural applications.https://rjeec.ro/Read/262?id=Effect%20of%20flexural%20strength%20and%20density%20properties%20of%20sugarcane%20bagasse%20reinforced%20unsaturated%20polyester%20compositessugarcane bagasseunsaturated polyester resinflexural strengthcomposite materialsdensity reduction
spellingShingle Ruslan Shamsuddeen
Aminu Sanusi Haruna
Ziyaulhaq Auwal Abdulkadir
Hussaini Faruq
Ansar Bilyaminu Adam
Musa Yahaya Abubakar
Mohammed Alhaji Usman
Effect of flexural strength and density properties of sugarcane bagasse reinforced unsaturated polyester composites
Romanian Journal of Ecology & Environmental Chemistry
sugarcane bagasse
unsaturated polyester resin
flexural strength
composite materials
density reduction
title Effect of flexural strength and density properties of sugarcane bagasse reinforced unsaturated polyester composites
title_full Effect of flexural strength and density properties of sugarcane bagasse reinforced unsaturated polyester composites
title_fullStr Effect of flexural strength and density properties of sugarcane bagasse reinforced unsaturated polyester composites
title_full_unstemmed Effect of flexural strength and density properties of sugarcane bagasse reinforced unsaturated polyester composites
title_short Effect of flexural strength and density properties of sugarcane bagasse reinforced unsaturated polyester composites
title_sort effect of flexural strength and density properties of sugarcane bagasse reinforced unsaturated polyester composites
topic sugarcane bagasse
unsaturated polyester resin
flexural strength
composite materials
density reduction
url https://rjeec.ro/Read/262?id=Effect%20of%20flexural%20strength%20and%20density%20properties%20of%20sugarcane%20bagasse%20reinforced%20unsaturated%20polyester%20composites
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AT ziyaulhaqauwalabdulkadir effectofflexuralstrengthanddensitypropertiesofsugarcanebagassereinforcedunsaturatedpolyestercomposites
AT hussainifaruq effectofflexuralstrengthanddensitypropertiesofsugarcanebagassereinforcedunsaturatedpolyestercomposites
AT ansarbilyaminuadam effectofflexuralstrengthanddensitypropertiesofsugarcanebagassereinforcedunsaturatedpolyestercomposites
AT musayahayaabubakar effectofflexuralstrengthanddensitypropertiesofsugarcanebagassereinforcedunsaturatedpolyestercomposites
AT mohammedalhajiusman effectofflexuralstrengthanddensitypropertiesofsugarcanebagassereinforcedunsaturatedpolyestercomposites