Potentials of Maize Stalk Ash as Reinforcement in Polyster Composites

This paper examine the microstructure and the mechanical properties of maize stalk ash particles reinforced polyester composites with the aim of producing a composite material showing enhanced properties for engineering applications.Maize stalk ash particles (MSAp) were added in different volume fractions into a polyester matrix at 5, 10, 15 and 20% respectively.Composites samples were produced from these mixtures and the effect of the maize stalk ash content on the mechanical and microstructural properties of the composites was investigated and analyzed.Results from the scanning electron microscope (SEM) of the composites show a good and gradual interfacial bonding as the MSAp content increases while the Energy Dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) show that carbon is present in the ash.The tensile strength, tensile modulus and compressive strength value increases as the maize stalk ash content increases but there is a gradual decrease for the impact strength.These results showed that the maize stalk ash can be used to improve the strength of polymer matrix composites for use in automobile and building applications.