ACTA METALLURGICA SLOVACA 2023, VOL. 29, NO. 4, 181-186 181 DOI: 10.36547/ams.29.4.1914 RESEARCH PAPER PHYSICO-MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYMER MATRIX COMPOSITE MATERIAL REINFORCED WITH CARBONIZED CASSAVA BACK PEEL AND IRON FILLINGS Adekunle Akanni Adeleke 1 , Peter Pelumi Ikubanni 2 , Jamiu Kolawole Odusote 3 , Lamidi Tajudeen Ko- lawole 3 , Thomas Aghogho Orhadahwe 4 , Mohammed Shariff Lawal 5 1 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nile University of Nigeria, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria. 2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Nigeria. 3 Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. 4 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Nigeria. 5 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna. *Corresponding author: ta.orhadahwe@acu.edu.ng, tel.: +234 8161384314, Faculty of Engineering /Ajayi Crowther University, 000000 (PMB 1066), Oyo, Oyo State. Received: 11.10.2023 Accepted: 29.11.2023 ABSTRACT The use of natural particles as reinforcement in polymers has become a subject of research in recent years due to their eco-friendly nature. This study aims to explore the use of cassava back peel, as a reinforcement material in epoxy resin-based composite. Composite plates were prepared for the casting of the epoxy resin reinforced with carbonized cassava back peel (CCBP) and iron fillings (IF) composite samples using a hand lay-up technique. The percentage compositions by weight of the CCBP varied between 0% and 10 %, while that of IF was kept constant (5%). The physical and mechanical behaviours of cassava back peel-reinforced epoxy polymer composites were studied using ASTM standards. The density of the epoxy resin was improved by adding IF and CCBP. The maximum density obtained was 1270 kg/cm3 for 5%CCBP epoxy composite. The percentage of water absorption was also improved by the addition of the filler materials with 5%IF10CCBP epoxy hybrid composite recording 30% water absorption. Conversely, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and breaking strength (BS) varied with the addition of the filler materials. 5%CCBP epoxy composite recorded 41.26 MPa for both UTS and BS. Meanwhile, percentage elongation decreased with the addition of the fillers showing that the com- posites became less ductile. The hardness Brinnel number of epoxy was improved with the addition of fillers. The fabricated compo- sites are suitable for applications where impact energy and hardness are crucial and high strength and ductility are not required such as automobile dashboards. Keywords: automobile dashboards; carbonization; polymer composites; iron-fillings; hybrid polymer composites; hand lay-up tech- nique INTRODUCTION Engineering components and equipment design usually involve the critical task of selecting appropriate materials that will meet service conditions in different areas of application. This led to the development of composite materials, which can combine properties of more than one class of materials since they are de- veloped from materials with inherent different properties [1–3]. This is achieved by the cohesion of the materials made by phys- ically combining two or more compatible materials, different in characteristics, composition, and sometimes in form. The im- portance of composite materials in engineering regarding poly- mer composites has led to increased studies in this area [4–8]. Composite materials have dominated many industries ranging from aerospace, transport, sporting, construction, automotive, information, and technology to household products and optical devices, because of their unique combined properties. They con- sist of high-strength particles (natural and synthetic) such as glass, aramid, carbon, plant, and animal biomass in low-strength polymeric matrices Garkheil and Pejis [9]. Polymer matrix composites are filled or reinforced with fibre or particulate reinforcement [7,10]. Although, fiber-reinforced composites have been prominently utilized in polymer compo- site production; however, particulate-reinforced composite has gained continual interest owing to their ease of production [8,11]. Particulate reinforced composite is the major focus of this study because of its eco-friendliness, low cost, renewability, lightweight, and lower energy consumption during production [12]. The addition of filler materials (particles) to matrix materials helps in their property’s improvement, cost reduction, and pro- cessing characteristics modification. Particulate compositions are generally derived from filler/solid addition synthesized from powders. The two main classifications of fillers are organic and inorganic. In polymeric matrix composites, the utilization of or- ganic filler has gained more attention because of their biodegra- dability, recyclability, renewability, and non-abrasiveness [8]. Several agro-wastes such as rice husk, animal bones, wood, oil palm, bagasse, cassava waste, and so on, have been considered as natural fillers and there has been a significant increase in the properties of the polymeric matrix. Aside from polymer matrix, natural fillers have been utilized in metal matrix composites with improved physical and mechanical properties of the composite