Application of Taguchi Robust Design for optimizing tensile strength response of Ukam-plant fibre reinforced cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) composite by the effects of control parameters

This paper focuses on the application of Taguchi Robust Design to determine the optimum tensile strength of Ukam-Plant Fibre Reinforced CNSL Composite using indigenous or locally sourced vegetable or plant based natural fibres (Ukam-plant fibres) that are Lignocellulose as potential raw material. Tensile tests were conducted on the replicated samples of Ukam-Plant Fibre Reinforced CNSL Composite to obtain the optimum properties.  Hounsfield Mosanto Tensometer, a universal testing machine was used to conduct tensile tests to determine the control factor levels quality characteristics considered necessary to optimize the mechanical property being investigated. Methodology of traditional and experimental design approach of Taguchi was used for the larger the better to obtain the highest signal to noise ratio (SN ratio)  for the quality characteristic being investigated and also to correlate the control factors (fibre condition i.e. untreated, silane treated and alkaline treated, volume fraction and fibre size). Minitab 16 software was used for statistical analysis to fine-tune conclusions and produce quantitative estimates. The optimum settings were as follows: alkaline treatment, volume fraction of 50%, and 50mm of fibre size which resulted in 18.69MPa optimum tensile strength. The experimental results obtained agreed satisfactorily with the Minitab 16 software predictions. The mechanical property studied revealed that composite depends significantly on the reinforcement combination of control parameters.