The investigation of reinforcement properties of nano-CaCO<sub>3</sub> synthesized from <i>Achatina fulica</i> snail shell through mechanochemical methods on epoxy nanocomposites
Oluwatoyin Joseph Gbadeyan, Sarp Adali, Glen Bright, Bruce Sitholé
Abstract
The current study investigates the reinforcement properties of novel nano-calcium carbonate (nano-CaCO3) synthesized from Achatina fulica snail shell. The shell was wet-milled to nanoparticle sizes using mechanochemical procedures. Epoxy nanocomposites prepared with nanofiller content ranges of 1–7 wt.% were fabricated using a conventional resin casting method. Thermal stability and degradation with mechanical properties such as tensile strength, impact strength, and the hardness properties of prepared nanocomposites were determined. It was observed that the reinforcement by the synthesized nano-CaCO3 improved the thermal stability and mechanical properties of neat epoxy irrespective of the filler content. Significantly, the inclusion of 1 w.% Achatina fulica snail shell nanoparticles increased the neat epoxy tensile strength by 75%, stiffness by over 25%, impact strength by 25%, and hardness 35%. These improved properties indicate that nano-CaCO3 synthesized from A. fulica snail shell possesses suitable reinforcement properties that can be used for nanocomposite fabrication.