Development of an abrasive material using periwinkle shells

In this study, abrasive properties of periwinkle shell grains with the binding effect of polyester resin on periwinkle shell grains at high concentration were investigated. The abrasive properties considered are hardness, compressive strength and wear resistance. Periwinkle shells were processed into FEPA grit standards by ball milling and then sieved using ASTM E11 set of sieves into grain sizes of P40, P60 and P140 grits. Further on, the grits were developed into polymer matrix composite with particles varying from 95 wt.% to 87 wt.% and resin 4 wt.% to 12 wt.% with 0.5 wt.% each of cobalt naphthalene and methyl ethyl ketone peroxide hardener by mixing and mold compression in a hydraulic press. It was found that hardness and compressive strength increased, wear rate decreased with an increase in polyester resin content. The composition with most improved abrasive properties was 87 wt.% periwinkle shell grains to 12 wt.% polyester resin. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) surface morphology of the composite microstructure revealed this composition to possess good interfacial bonding between particles of PWS and polyester resin, PWS grains to retain a defined shape and grain orientation with less distortion from compressive stresses and less grain pull-out effect from wear.