Mechanical Properties of Cocoa-Pod/Epoxy Composite; Effect of Filler Fraction

In this study the mechanical properties of an agricultural waste (cocoa pod) in a polymer matrix (Epoxy resin) was investigated, and the effect of volume fraction of cocoa pod/epoxy resin composite was also investigated, different filler volume fraction (viz. 5 to 30 weight %) were fabricated, tensile and flexural test were performed according to ASTM D638, and ASTM D790, test results reveal that tensile and flexural strength of the composite decrease with filler volume fraction, while tensile modulus, flexural modulus and micro hardness of the composite increase with the increase in filler volume fraction. Morphological studies reveal that there is good dispersion of filler in the polymer matrix.