Investigation on thermo-mechanical characteristics of treated/untreatedPortunus sanguinolentusshell powder-based jute fabrics reinforced epoxy composites

The current study deals with the effective usage ofPortunus sanguinolentusshell, which is a solid waste in the seafood industry. ThisPortunus sanguinolentusshell waste was powdered and used as untreated fillers in jute fabrics reinforced epoxy composites. ThenPortunus sanguinolentusshell waste powder was treated with chemicals to perform fat removal, deproteination, decarbonization and deacetylation to obtain treatedPortunus sanguinolentusshell filler. Three different composites were developed with traditional hand layup process consisting of four layers jute fabrics that were filled with 10 wt% untreatedPortunus sanguinolentusshell filler, chemical treated 10 wt%Portunus sanguinolentusshell filler and unfilled one. The thermo-mechanical and fracture morphologies were assessed by tensile, flexural, compression, shear, impact, hardness thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis. The results showed an increase in the thermo-mechanical property of chemical-treatedPortunus sanguinolentusshell powder-filled jute fabrics-based epoxy composite. This phenomenon is due to the increase in the chitosan, mineral contents and decrease in the organic content in thePortunus sanguinolentusshell powder due to chemical treatment, thus enhancing the bonding between the filler and fiber matrix with reduction of the void. A showcase stand was developed with the best performer, as an attempt in the perfection of application. The application is then analyzed using ANSYS to predict the deformation behavior when subjected to 0.25 kg, 0.5 kg and 1 kg loads.