Waste to wealth: A case study of empty water sachet conversion into composite material for automobile application

Efforts have been made to turn empty water sachet (commonly called pure water nylon), palm kernel shell and iron filings, which are all wastes released into the environment from different sectors of production in Nigeria into a useful material of good physical and mechanical properties. These wastes, especially the empty water sachet, pose a great challenge on the effort of achieving a clean and safe environment, mostly by their contribution to flooding during the rainy season. A recycling aimed research was carried out, making use of these materials to produce a new composite material and proffer suggestions for the possible use of the newly developed composite material. The empty water sachet was used as a matrix, which was reinforced by carbonized palm kernel shell particulate and iron filings. The percentage composition of iron fillings was maintained at 5%wt, while that of palm kernel shell ash was varied from 5%wt - 20%wt at an interval of 5%. The composites were compounded and compressively moulded. Physical and mechanical properties of the composites were tested for and the results obtained shows that the composite material could be used to produce automobile bumper among other parts due to their Impact Strength and low Density. After results analysis, materials with 5%wt of CPKS and that with 10%wt of CPKS were recommended for the automobile bumper production following their high impact strength - density ratio of 0.26 and 0.19 respectively, which are higher as compared to that of Peugeot 406 bumper measured alongside the composite materials.