An experimental study on tensile strength of ramie fibre polyester based on with and without wall nut shell powder

The primary aim of this study is to investigate the tensile strength of a novel composite material made of ramie fiber (Boehmeria nivea) polyester reinforced with walnut shell powder at a weight percentage (wt%) of 10, in comparison to ramie fiber polyester without walnut shell powder. The materials for this research included ramie fibers, polyester resin, and walnut shell powder. The methodology involved the preparation of 40 samples, divided into two distinct groups. Group 1 consisted of 20 samples of ramie fiber polyester without walnut shell powder, serving as the control group. Group 2 comprised 20 samples of a novel composite material made of ramie fiber polyester reinforced with walnut shell powder at a weight percentage of 10%. The sample size was determined to be sufficient for achieving a statistical power (G- Power) of 80%, with alpha (α) and beta (β) values set at 0.05 and 0.2, respectively, ensuring a confidence interval of 95%. Statistical analysis was conducted using to compare the tensile strengths of the two groups, with the hypothesis that the addition of walnut shell powder would significantly enhance the tensile strength of the composite material. The average tensile strength of ramie fibre polyester without walnut shell powder was 25 MPa. The innovative composite material, ramie fibre polyester reinforced with 10% walnut shell powder, had an average tensile strength of 31 MPa. A two-tailed significance test was used to determine the statistical significance of the tensile strength difference between groups. The investigation into the tensile strength of ramie fiber polyester composites, with and without the addition of walnut shell powder, reveals that walnut shell powder significantly enhances the material's tensile strength. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.