THE EFFECT OF FILLER CONTENT ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF DATE PITS POWDER FILLED FLEXIBLE POLYURETHANE FOAM

Authors: Abdullahi Zakari(National Board for Technical Education, Kaduna), Nuhu Lawal(Department of Polymer and Textile Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria), E.S Nwadiokwu(Polymer and Textile Division, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi Lagos) and Halima Salisu(Department of Polymer and Textile Technology, Kaduna Polytechnics, Kaduna)

Journal:Nigerian Journal Of Technical Education | Volume:24 | Issue: 1 | Pages:158 - 167

Keywords:polyurethane foam, date pits and mechanical properties.

Abstract

The main target of this research is to use readily available material as filler in the production of flexible foam. An agricultural waste Date pits at 40µm size were incorporated into the formulation of polyurethane foam with different loading of 5, 10 and 15 (%). The effect of date pits powder on mechanical, thermal, physical properties and visible test was investigated and recorded. The results showed that the hardness and density properties increased as the filler loading increases, however the values unfilled foams were lower than that of the filled samples with value from 121 ˗ 143 (shore A) for 5% - 15% respectively and 19.33 ˗ 22.58 (cm3) for 5% - 15% respectively. The result showed that 5% loading gave the highest temperature and compression resistance with values of 164 (ᵒC) and 54.86 (AC %) respectively, the visible test result deduced different color for 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% loading (white color foam, light brown foam colour, dark brown foam colour, dark brown foam colour) respectively, therefore the date pits can be used as filler in the production of polyurethane foam for added values.