Assessment of Thermo-Mechanically Treated Chicken Feather Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Composites for Automobile Application

This research was carried out to assess the viability of chemical modification on the mechanical and abrasion properties of treated chicken feather fibre as reinforcement in epoxy resin to develop composites for automobile applications. The composites were developed using waste chicken feather fibre from poultry after been treated with NaOH to reinforced epoxy resin. The short fibres were randomly dispersed in an open mould and allowed to solidify at room temperature. Tests were carried out on the cured samples to ascertain the aptness of the materials. From the results, it was observed that the developed composites have the potentials that are expedient in automobile materials. The mechanical and abrasion properties were improved by the addition of these chemically modified chicken feather fibre into the epoxy. These properties were enhanced at the application of 2-8 wt% reinforcements. While 2 wt% produced the overall best performance for mechanical properties, 4-6 wt% gave the best results for abrasion property.