Processed Waste Materials: Its Strength and Weight Potential for Wheelchair Frame

The primary objective of this research is to design a wheelchair frame from waste products such as; coconut fiber (cocosnucifera L.), banana fiber pseudo-stem (musasapientum), rice hull and corn/maize fiber. This wheelchair frame has similar characteristics in terms of strength and reliability but economically affordable.This experimentation includes making the sample materials out of epoxy resin composite with natural fibre filler. Each material was then weighed and tested for tensile and compressive strength. After testing, data and results were compared. The results reflected success showing no significant difference between comparison on the materials in terms of tensile and compressive strength. With this study, the researchers have concluded that the natural fibers are comparable and can be used as a substitute to aluminum in manufacturing a wheelchair frame. There is also an impressive advantage in terms of compressive strength and weight between the experimental group and the controlled group aluminum. Other studies and literatures supports the result of this study as presented in the results and discussion.

Keywords: waste material, tensile strength, compression strength, weight, wheelchair frame.