Evaluation and Optimization of Performance Characteristics of Wood Ash Particles Reinforced PP Resin (WARPP)

C. C. Ihueze; P. S. Aguh

C. C. Ihueze Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
P. S. Aguh Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Keywords: Injection moulding, Taguchi method, performance characteristics, robust design, response surface, signal to noise ratio, TRD-RSM

Abstract

This study focused on Evaluation and Optimization of Performance Characteristics of Wood Ash Particles Reinforced Polypropylene Resin (WARPP). Taguchi robust design was used to plan a minimum number of experiments needed to optimize the performance characteristics of WARPP while response surface method (RSM) was used to model and optimize performance characteristics of WARPP. The performance characteristics or responses of WARPP for the mechanical properties are the result of the interaction among the input variables namely, particle size, volume fraction, injection force and operating temperature. The optimum values of the mechanical properties (tensile, flexural and hardness strength) of WARPP are 21.19MPa, 50.09MPa and 521.84MPa, respectively with their corresponding input variables values of 0.25 mm, 1.40 mm and 1.40 mm for particle size, 5.0%, 5.0% and 60% volume fraction, 120 ton, 200 ton and 200 ton injection force and 185C, 215C and 215C operating temperature. The response model of WARPP for tensile, flexural and hardness are representable with nonlinear power law model and second order polynomial models respectively. Further investigations are recommended for testing WARPP under higher temperature applications to ascertain its performance at elevated temperatures.