Improvement of mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and thermal properties of almond shell powder reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene styrene composites by addition of cerium oxide

Currently, natural materials are gradually replacing synthetic materials in polymer composites due to factors including cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and the availability of raw materials. This study examined the variations in thermal, mechanical, and dynamic mechanical properties of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) thermoplastic composite materials incorporating varying ratios of almond shell powder (ASP) and Cerium Oxide (CeO2). Tensile tests, three-point bending tests, dynamic mechanical analyses, and thermogravimetric analyses were conducted. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analyses were employed to assess pure ABS and nine distinct composite materials. The tensile strength, elastic modulus, and three-point bending strength of the composite material exhibited increases of 6%, 7%, and 7.5%, respectively, compared to pure ABS, with various ratios of almond shell powder and CeO2 reinforcement. Moreover, composite materials exhibit elevated glass-transition temperatures and storage moduli compared to pure ABS. Microstructure images obtained through SEM and EDS element mapping illustrate the distribution of ASP and CeO2 in ABS, influencing its mechanical and thermal properties. Highlights: Almond shell powder and cerium oxide were used as filler materials in ABS. Mechanical, morphological, and dynamic mechanical properties were investigated. Almond shell powder enhanced the mechanical properties of the ABS composite. Low cerium oxide supplementation improved the mechanical properties.