Experimental Investigation of the Effect of E Waste Fillers on Natural Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

Abstract

Electronic waste management is becoming more important since it reduces environmental and health risks. Due to the decreasing lifespan of electronic equipment, everyone has to accept the need to reuse or recycle obsolete components. However, biodegradable materials have become popular for making engineering and commercial components. Many plant-based fibres are as strong as non-biodegradable synthetic fibres and can be used to produce engineering components. In this study, electronic wastes like waste printed circuit boards and used compact discs are pulverized, sieved, and used as filler in proper proportions during the fabrication of different woven natural fiber composite boards. XRF analyses show the presence of hazardous elements in the electronic waste fillers. Fabrication of laminate boards and carried out using the vacuum-assisted hand layup technique. Epoxy resins and electronic waste fillers are mixed in proportions of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% by weight of fiber. The effects of electronic waste fillers on lignocellulosic natural fibers like sisal, flax, kenaf, and banana were analyzed. Mechanical tests like tensile, flexure, impact, shore D hardness, and compression were conducted as per newlinevi newlinethe respective ASTM standards. A differential scanning calorimetric test was newlineconducted to find the glass transition temperature of the composite specimens. newlineSince lignocellulosic fiber is prone to absorbing water, a water absorption test newlinewas conducted. Since many engineering components are fabricated using newlinenatural fiber composites, their wear properties are also examined for various newlinepercentages of filler addition. The effects of micro and nanosized e-waste newlinefillers are also compared, and the results indicate an increase in mechanical newlinestrength and thermal stability of nanofiller laminates at certain proportions.