Enhancing Mechanical Strength of Materials for Construction using Agricultural Fiber Composites

Agricultural biodegradable-filler is cost and environmentally efficient substitute to synthetic-fillers for material engineering applications. Mechanical strengths were therefore studied for agricultural fiber-composites that were made with different amounts of kenaf stem (KS), tamarind shell (TS) and resin (RS). Composites had varied percentage weights of KS (10 - 30%), a mix of TS (10%) and RS (60%). Tensile and impact strengths were carried out in respect to ASTMD3039 (2014) and ASTMD256 (2023) standard protocols respectively. Results indicated a significant correlation between kenaf filler composition and material strengths of the hybrid-composites. Composite of 20%KS possessed the most significant optimal mechanical performance compared to other hybrids. Hybrid composite tensile strength increased from 32.5MPa for 10%KS composite to 38.8MPa for 20%KS hybrid composite when compared with pure epoxy resin (check) 17.8MPa for 100%RS. The impact strength optimally and significantly increased from 2.55J for 10%KS composite to 4.48J for 20%KS composite, compared with check epoxy resin 1.06J for 100%RS. These results indicate significant improvements in hybrid composites mechanical strengths for material engineering applications to accelerate Africa's socio-economic transformation. Keywords: Agriculture, Waste, Mechanic, Hybrid, Enhancement, Kenaf, Transformation