Last Updated 13 years ago by Kenya Engineer
Composite materials are made up of at least two constituents differing in composition bonded together while retaining their individual identities and properties. One of the materials serves as a matrix and encapsulates the reinforcing material. A major driving force behind the accelerated development of composite materials has been their high specific stiffness and strength compared to the traditional engineering materials like metals.
Their low density enables the manufacturer of lightweight structures, saving on weight and in the case of composite trailers, transporting more weight hence achieving increased profits. Polymeric composite materials can also be manufactured using recycled plastics, thus creating jobs and at the same time addressing environmental pollution resulting from daily accumulation of plastic waste in Kenyan urban dump sites. When left uncollected, the plastics are carried by surface run-off water to the water systems where they clog the drainage systems and raw water intake pumps.
One of the specific strategies for the development of the manufacturing sector as envisaged in the Kenya’s Vision 2030 is value addition of imported materials such as metals and plastics. This can be achieved by employing composites technology. Furthermore, the emphasis in the agricultural sector is also on value addition and increased smallholder specialization in the cash crop sub-sectors.
Since Kenya is endowed with many non-food crops such as bamboo, sisal and coir, these fibres can be utilized to reinforce plastics to manufacture fibre reinforced composite materials. Natural fibre composites can be a good substitute for timber-wood in some applications, resulting in the reduction of deforestation.
Another benefit of investing in composites manufacturing is that it creates growth in other sectors of the production chain such as material supply and product development. Therefore, this technology has the potential to fast track technological development in the country thus playing a key role in the attainment of Kenya Vision 2030.
Join Moi University’s Prof. (ENG.) Paul Mwanzia Wambua, FIEK together with the Department of Manufacturing, Industrial & Textile Engineering School of Engineering on Thursday, 21st February 2013
Time: 2.00.pm for the 18th Inaugural Lecture.
Venue: Margaret Thatcher Library – Main Campus
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