Chicken feather are waste produced during processing of chicken for food. In a study it is seen that millions of tons of chicken feather produce every year in India. If these poultry waste is utilised properly and because of low cost, easy availability, superior characteristics and most importantly it will not cause any ecological and health problems which will ultimately benefit the poultry industry and also the environment. Chicken feather fiber (CFF) that is a clear livestock waste is been used currently in various applications like textiles, crafting, decorations and even in biocomposite manufacturing. The reason for it is the abundance availability and compatible characteristics of the CFF. Here the reviews by various literature sited has been piled up to enhance the awareness of the researchers in the area of using CFF as a reinforcing material in developing various forms of composites. Properties like physical, chemical, mechanical, thermal, acoustical, morphological etc. that are been characterized by different researchers have been put together for the advancement of material development technology. In the past Importance is being given by most of the researchers to the various natural plant fibers. So for the change and the sustainable development the reviews are been formatted. Chicken feather consists of fibre and quill. Both of them consists of hydrphobic keratin, a protein which has high strength, low density and high biodegradability.We are presenting idea to make polymer matrix composites from these waste chicken feather. These composite have high strength, low cost, high durability, low weight ratio, having hydrophobic nature. It also have high noise absorption coefficient. All these factors leads to do more research in this area, since it will reduce the livestock waste and use it for manufacturing of composite which leads to sustainable growth and healthy environment

1. 1 | P a g e
CHICKEN FEATHER REINFORCED COMPOSITE
Project report submitted to
BUNDELKHAND UNIVERSITY, JHANSI(U.P.), INDIA
In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of
Bachelor of Technology
In
Mechanical Engineering
By
Mohd Najam, Ashish Jaiswal, Sonu Prasad, Pooja Rai, Ravi Pratap Singh
Under the Guidance of
ER. SATYENDRA UPADHYAYA
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
BUNDELKHAND UNIVERSITY, JHANSI-284128 U.P. (INDIA)
September, 2020
Session 2019-20

2. 2 | P a g e
BUNDELKHAND UNIVERSITY, JHANSI (U.P.) – 284128
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
(DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING)
Reference……………..
Date:………………….
CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that this project entitled “Chicken Feather Reinforced Composite” by
“Mohd Najam, Ashish Jaiswal, Sonu Prasad, Pooja Rai, Ravi Pratap Singh ” has been carried
out under my guidance and supervision. This project is for fulfillment of the award of the degree of
Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from Institute of Engineering and
Technology, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh.
During this year period, they worked with me as per University norms. They were regular,
hardworking, devoted to task and eager to learn new concepts. I wish them a bright and successful
carrier.
Er. Vishal Arya Er. Satyendra Upadhyaya
(Head of Department) (Assistant Professor)
(Mechanical Engineering Department) (Mechanical Engineering Department)
I.E.T, B.U, JHANSI I.E.T, B.U, JHANSI

3. 3 | P a g e
DECLERATION
We declare that project work entitled “Chicken Feather Reinforced Composite ” is an authentic
work carried out by us under the worthy guidance of “Er. Satyendra Upadhyaya”, Assistant
professor in Mechanical Engineering Department, Institute Of Engineering and Technology,
Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, U.P., India. This work has been submitted in the partial
fulfillment of the requirement of degree of Bachelor of technology in “Mechanical Engineering”.
We have completed this work without using any unfair means. It was real experience gaining
practical knowledge.
Sr. No. Name of Student Roll No./Enrollment No Signature
1. Mohd Najam 161391034032 Najam
2. Ashish Jaiswal 161391034018 Ashish
3. Sonu Prasad 161391034051 Sonu
4. Pooja Rai 161391034036 Pooja
5. Ravi Pratap Singh 161391034041 Ravi

4. 4 | P a g e
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, I would like to thank Er Vishal Arya, H.O.D, Department of Mechanical
Engineering, IET, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, who guided me a lot of completion of this
project work. Beyond that I am indebted for this personal touch and help in the past four years. I
sincerely thank your efforts time and energy and best of my kindest regard to you and your family.
I express my sincere thanks to supervisor, Er. Satyendra Upadhyaya, Assistant Professor,
Department of Mechanical Engineering, IET, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi for his
encouragement, co-operation and moral support during the entire project activities.
I also express my sincere thanks to Er. Shashikant Verma, Assistant Professor , Department of
Mechanical Engineering, IET, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi for his co-operation and support
during the entire project activities.
At last but not the least, I am grateful to my parents, whose blessing and constant
encouragements have helped me to complete this project.
1. Mohd Najam (161391034032)
2. Ashish Jaiswal (161391034018)
3. Sonu Prasad (161391034051)
4. Pooja Rai (161391034036)
5. Ravi Pratap Singh (161391034041)

5. 5 | P a g e
ABSTRACT
Chicken feather are waste produced during processing of chicken for food. In a study it is seen that
millions of tons of chicken feather produce every year in India. If these poultry waste is utilised
properly and because of low cost, easy availability, superior characteristics and most importantly it
will not cause any ecological and health problems which will ultimately benefit the poultry industry
and also the environment. Chicken feather fiber (CFF) that is a clear livestock waste is been used
currently in various applications like textiles, crafting, decorations and even in biocomposite
manufacturing. The reason for it is the abundance availability and compatible characteristics of the
CFF. Here the reviews by various literature sited has been piled up to enhance the awareness of the
researchers in the area of using CFF as a reinforcing material in developing various forms of
composites. Properties like physical, chemical, mechanical, thermal, acoustical, morphological etc.
that are been characterized by different researchers have been put together for the advancement of
material development technology. In the past Importance is being given by most of the researchers
to the various natural plant fibers. So for the change and the sustainable development the reviews
are been formatted. Chicken feather consists of fibre and quill. Both of them consists of hydrphobic
keratin, a protein which has high strength, low density and high biodegradability.We are presenting
idea to make polymer matrix composites from these waste chicken feather. These composite have
high strength, low cost, high durability, low weight ratio, having hydrophobic nature. It also have
high noise absorption coefficient.
All these factors leads to do more research in this area, since it will reduce the livestock waste and
use it for manufacturing of composite which leads to sustainable growth and healthy environment.

6. 6 | P a g e
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents Page No.
Certificate 2
Declaration 3
Acknowledgement 4
Abstract 5
Table of contents 6
List of figures 7
List of Tables 7
Chapter 1: Introduction 8-9
Chapter 2: Literature Review 10-11
Chapter 3: Methodology 12-13
Chapter 4: Results and Discussion 14
Chapter 5: Future scope 14
Chapter 6: Conclusion 15
Chapter 7: References 16-17

7. 7 | P a g e
LIST OF FIGURES
S. No. Figures Page No.
1 Details View of typical chicken Feather 9
2 Final Composite Model images 14
LIST OF TABLES
S. NO. Tables Page No.
1 Weight Percentage Ratio of a chicken Feather 13

8. 8 | P a g e
Chapter 1
Introduction
At present, India stands 5th role in the international hen meat manufacturing (ICAR-DPR, 2015).
Domestic poultry meat manufacturing (broiler-carcass weight) is estimated to have accelerated
from less than 1.0 million lots in 2000 to 3.4 million heaps in 2012 (FAO, 2012). As per the recent
statistics published through the (BAHS, 2014) 729.21 million numbers of poultry are current in
India. The contribution of meat from poultry enterprise is about 36.68% (FAO, 2012).
Slaughtering and processing of poultry birds give only one third as meat portion while the rest as
poultry wastes and byproducts, which need to be effectively processed and utilized. Added to
that, the disposal of feather waste at the processing plant is posing ecological and environmental
problems. The problem is more serious in India due to the prevailing advertising and marketing
habits. Waste feathers are regularly buried in landfills or piled in dumpsites. However, feathers
are naturally resistant to deterioration and persist in the surroundings for decades.
Consequently, they take up massive space in landfills and the awful odor from residual manure,
blood and different extraneous materials possess air pollution in the area. In some countries
waste feathers are burned in fire plants. But burning waste feather is steeply-priced and the
technique outcomes in the emission of greenhouse gases and issues with ash disposal.
Many attempts have been made to make use of the feathers which in any other case have
become a burden to dispose off. One such attempt was once to use feathers in animal feed but the
latest findings that feather meal is a potential disease carrier which forced many
governments to ban the feather meal altogether. Hence tries to use feather fiber for other
applications have been on the rise. Also, the mandate in USA, Europe and Australia, that at least
60% of car interiors ought to be made of biodegradable materials is some other encouraging
aspect to change the man-made fibers with natural fibers. Processed feather fibers have been
observed to be a higher alternative to man-made fibers by means of virtue of their bio
degradability. The benefit of feather fiber is that it is reachable at foremost processing plant life as
well as in small retail outlets in India on daily basis and not seasonally unlike different natural
fibers.
Feather structure
Feather mainly consists of four components, viz.
1.quill or rachis
2.barbs
3.barbules
4.hooklets
Fig .1

9. 9 | P a g e
Quill is the central shaft that holds on to the bird’s body while barbs branch out from the quill.
Barbules eather as seen through a microscope further branch out from barbs and hooklets branch
out from barbules. Fig. 1 shows the specific shape of a feather. Though the quill fraction of the
feather seems completely distinct from the rest three fractions, chemically all are keratin. The
sequence of amino acids that forms keratin in feathers differentiates quill from barbs. While quill
is β-keratin (sheet), barb and barbule are α- keratin (helix). Hence the mechanical properties and
physical appearance of barb and barbule are far different from that of quill. Quill element of the
feather is brittle and sheet like and as a result does no longer qualify as fiber. Rest of the feather
fractions (barb, barbule and hooklet) is soft and all fibrous. Mutual cohesion coupled with exact
tensile power and excessive component ratio along with uniform diameter make CFF a
appropriate fiber for developing composites. About 40% of the 95 amino acids in keratin are
hydrophilic and the remaining 60% are hydrophobic. Some researchers declare this to be
50:50. This makes feather fiber discover application with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic
resins.
For any material to qualify as a fiber, uniform diameter and high aspect ratio (50 and above) of
the fiber are two important prerequisites apart from good tensile strength and mutual cohesion.
Chicken feather fiber satisfies all the four requirements to a greater extent. The average diameter of
barbules of chicken feather is of the order of 5 to 6 µm and the aspect ratio falls between 50 and
4009. Abundance in the availability of chicken feather and ease of handling qualifies CFF as a
renewable alternative raw material to replace the existing sources to some extent. Over and above,
CFF is non-toxic and not hazardous to the worker, unlike glass fiber.

10. 10 | P a g e
Chapter 2
Literature Review
Fibers from chicken feathers are very small (5 microns in diameter) and have high surface area
with excellent adsorbent properties. They are finer than wood pulp and could collect more
spores, dust and other particles, thereby improving air quality inside homes and offices. Feathers
also have specific sites to adsorb molecular ion species (e.g. cupric, ferric and chromate ions) as
well as particulate matters. Consequently, they have potential use for cleaning industrial
effluents. This ability of chicken feathers to adsorbs contaminants was demonstrated when an oil
tanker carrying about 200,000 liters of bunker oil sank and spilled oil near the central island of
Guimaras, Iloilo, Philippines. To help fight the worse oil spill in the country, the Philippine Coast
Guard used human hair and chicken feather to soak up the bunker oil.
A number of commercial applications have been explored to utilize fibers from chicken feathers
(Schmidt 1998). Unfortunately, due tothe low volume requirements of these new products they have
not significantly reduced the volume of waste feathers generated each year. Composite building
materials, such as fiberboard andparticleboard, are high volume, high value applications which could
potentially consume a large amount of waste chicken feathers. A simple, practical way to
incorporate poultry feathers into composite boards is to bind them with Portland cement. There are
few studies on this aspect of utilization have been reported. However, if this could be proven
feasible, it could offer an affordable new building material with both economic and
environmental advantages
FEATHERBOARD: A NEW BUILDING MATERIAL: In 2007, a small project supported by
the Ford Conservation and Environmental Grants provided the opportunity for the author to
develop an affordable cement bonded composite using waste chicken feathers for low cost housing
projects in the Philippines. Experimental variables used in the study included varying proportions
and form of chicken feather (fiber, ground or mixed), board configuration (homogenous or layered)
and amount of superplasticizer and coupling agent. After 2 years of intensive laboratory study,
the project developed a board (called Featherboard) from a blend of cement, sand, chemical
admixtures 358 Menandro N. Acda and waste chicken feathers (Figure 3). Results of the study
showed that the physical and mechanical properties (strength, stiffness, dimensional stability) of the
featherboard containing 5-10% fiber or ground feather compared favorably with commercial fiber
cement board in the market (e.g. Hardiflex®) with excellent decay and termite resistance.
Furthermore, the density and configuration (layered or homogenous) of the board can be varied to
suit various applications such as paneling, sidings and insulation boards. The optimum
proportions of feather in these boards maybe small at first glance, however, considering that

11. 11 | P a g e
chicken feathers are fluffy and very light in weight, the amount represents a relatively large
amount of feather material equivalent to about 10-15 times the volume of cement used.
By investigating its property and its potential for application it can used for making non- structural
building material with improved mechanical properties. We will try to make featherboard which is
economical to common people specially for the people who are not permanent resident i.e.,
nomads and in floody areas. Material made from feather will not cause any environmental threat and
it is more economical to man-made fiber. In this manner waste chicken feather can be utilized
for biocompatible building material for common people.

12. 12| P a g e
Chapter 3
Methodology
In this present experimentation, fabrication of the composite was done by the hand lay-up technique. Firstly
we did the chemical treatment of chicken feather . chemical treatment shows an intense effect on the
properties of the composites by inculcating better adhesion features between fiber and the matrix. The fibers
were chemically treated with a Ethanol solution for about an hour and subsequently washed with water to
eradicate any traces of the chemicals. They were dried for 8 hour in sun light temperature for complete
removal of moisture. The improvement achieved with treatment was and in turn increased the surface
roughness which is an imperative parameter for proper gluing between the fiber and the matrix. Then we
grinded the chicken feather in grinding machine ,The chicken fibers have large content of keratin present
in them which makes their surface every smooth and slippery, so to remove that from its surface, chemical
treatment was essential for proper bonding. After that
The mould was prepared using a both sided tape and the mold dimensions of 150mm×150mm×15mm,
which was open from the top. The mould was uncontaminated with the help of Ethanol and then the
releasing agent in the form of silica gel was applied on its surface for easy removal of the composite formed.
After an hour ,the mixture was of epoxy and hardener made . We took epoxy in Plastic glass then did
magnetic stir it for few minutes. After the attainment of the required temperature, the hardener was mixed
immediately. Due to the introduction of the hardener, an exothermic reaction took place, which boosted the
temperature of the mixture a bit and convert edit into a viscous one. Because of the surface of the fibers was
treated with Ethanol to improve the interphase bonding as a discussed earlier . Now Chicken feathers were taken
in different weight percentages of with different Epoxy and hardener solution which I have written below in
chart.
Weight % Ratio of chicken Feather
Total Weight Model Chicken Feather Epoxy Hardener
200 gm N 1 5 gm 185 gm 10 gm
200 gm N 2 15 gm 166 gm 19 gm
200 gm N 3 20 gm 162 gm 18 gm
Table . 1
Then the epoxy resin has been layered on the mould (1-1.5 mm) thickness and Chicken feathers placed
uni-directionally on it. The weights are hung on both sides to maintain tension in the fibres. After removing
the entrapped air with the help of metal roller rolled on the layer, thereafter again another layer of epoxy
resin has been layered on the mould same thickness and chicken fibres placed uni direction on it. Then

13. 13 | P a g e
upper part of mould is placed on side plates, which is placed on both side of lower part of mould. Then the
cover is put over the mould and left for 48 hour for curing. After 48 hours it is removed from the mould
and then test specimens of required dimensions are cut from the fabricated piece.
The composite pieces produced are single ply having thickness between 3 mm. In this way we prepared the
specimen of size (100mm × 100 mm × 5 mm). The composite produced single ply 3 mm thickness and is
shown in Figure 1.
(a) (b) (c)
(d)

14. 14 | P a g e
Chapter 4
Results And Discussion
If we talk about the results we were planning to did different tests on a chicken feather composite
which we have made such as Tensile strength , Flexural strength , Hardness and Impact strength
Etc. But Due to covid-19 virus pandemic we could not perform these tests
Chapter 5
Future Scope
Chicken feather and other natural fibers are been continuously examined for various biocomposites and its
application has expanded in multi direction. In 1989 Jang . found a significant improvement in impact
energy of hybrid composites incorporating either particulates or ceramic whiskers [12]. Attempts to
understand the modifications in the tribological behavior of the polymers with the addition of fillers or fiber
reinforcements have been made by a few researchers [13]. Hybrid composite materials have wide
engineering applications due to low cost, good strength-to-weight ratio and ease of manufacturing [15]. In
2013 China [15] described application of CFF in technical textiles. China [15] added by interpreting that
nonwoven which is prepared by CFF has wide application in the field of technical textiles [15].
Later in 2013 Giraldo [15] expressed the use of rachis of CFF for hydrogen storage. Here the samples were
characterized through nitrogen adsorption isotherms at −196°C, FTIR, SEM and XPS [15]. Wang
suggested the application of CFF in high capacity carbon which was prepared from renewable chicken
feather biopolymer for developing super capacitors. In this research work the author concluded that the
chicken feather carbon is acted as electrode materials for the first time. There are plentiful micro pores for
the activated chicken feather carbon and it displays the excellent electrochemical properties [13]
CFF as the reinforcing material for composites. Here the review on the behavior of the CFF was made to
upgrade and understand their usability as a reinforcing material for composite fabrication [10]. Also Reddy
et al. [11] in 2014 determined the non-food applications of CFF in industries [11]. Recently in 2015,
Bhattacharyya et al. [9] studied about the superficial use of Natural fibers, their composites and various
flammability characterizations. Here the sub classification of natural fiber is done like plant fiber, animal
fiber and mineral fiber and its applications are discussed. The proper explanation of the characteristics and
properties of different fibers have been discussed by the author [9].

15. 15 | P a g e
Chapter 6
Conclusion
Through the review made here it can be concluded that the CFF has immense importance and great scope
of improvement and discovery through advanced research in the field of advanced composite material. All
the properties, structure and its effect can be easily examined. Further research on CFF based composite
can be easily made by referring the above information. Different combinations can be made along with CFF
as Matrix, Particulate or Fiber and also the amalgamation of all the forms can be added in various
percentages to design hybrid composites. Highly improved and hybrid materials can be designed through
modification in the existence material and property enhancement can be done. Further scope in the
biocomposite design is the use of CFF in hybrid composite manufacturing
CFF has good fibrous nature, its morphological results relates to the uniform dispersion. If fiber orientation
is made systematic instead of random and sizing is manipulated also if the mixing technique of fiber with
matrix during casting is improved then an enhanced characterization of developed composite can be
achieved with much cost effective applications.

16. 16 | P a g e
Chapter 7
References
1.Akinmutimi AL and Effiong IK. 2014. Evaluation of Eggshell as a Liming Material in an
Ultisol of South Eastern Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Soil and Environmental Research.12: 67-
74.
2.American Chemical Society. 2011. Advance toward making biodegradable plastics from waste
chicken feathers. ScienceDaily.
3.Amu OO, Fajobi AB and Oke BO. 2005. Effect of eggshell powder on the stabilization
potential of lime on an expansive clay soil. Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological
Science. 1: 80- 84.4
4.Anonymous. 2000. Sludge: An industry concern or opportunity. Render, 29: 8-10.
5.Arias JL, Carrino DA, Fernandez MS, Rodrigues JE, Denis J.E and Capln AI. 1992. Partial
biochemical and immunological characterization of avian eggshell extracellular matrices.
Arch. Biochemistry. Biophysics, 298: 293-302.
6.A.L. Martı´nez-Herna´ndez, C. Velasco-Santos, M. de-Icaza, Victor M. Castan.O,Dynamical
– mechanical and thermal analysis composites reinforced with keratin biofibers from chicken
feathers,Composites: Part B 38 (2007) 405–410
7.Saira Taj, Munawar Ali Munawar, and Shafiullah Khan “Natural Fiber-Reinforced
Polymer Composites , Proc. Pakistan Acad. Sci. 44(2):129-144.2007
8. Acda, M. N. (2009). Waste chicken feather as reinforcement in cement bonded composites.
The Philippine Journal of Science (in press).
9.Al-Asheh, S. (2003). Beneficial reuse of chicken feathers in removal of heavy metals
from wastewater. J. Cleaner Production, 11, 321-326.
10. Bhattacharyya D, Suba AS, Kyeun NK (2015) Natural fibers: Their composites and
flammability characterizations. Multi functionality of Polymer Composites 2: 102-144
11. Jagdeshgouda KB , Reddy PR, Ishwaraprasad K (2014) Experimental study of behavior of
poultry feather fiber - a reinforcing material for composites. IJRET 3: 90-96.
12. Reddy N, Jiang J, Yang Y (2014) Biodegradable Composites Containing Chicken Feathers as
Matrix and Jute Fibers as Reinforcement. Springer Journal pp. 310-318.

17. 17 | P a g e
13. Jang BZ and Lin TL (1989) Ann Tech Conf (ANTEC) New York
14.Wang Q, Cao Q, Wang X, Jing B, Kuang H, et al. (2013) A high-capacity carbon prepared from
renewable chicken feather biopolymer for super capacitors. Journal of Power Sources 225: 101-
107
15.Gururaja MN and Rao HAN (2012) A review on recent applications and future prospectus of
hybrid composites. International Journal of Soft Computing Engineering 1: 2231-2307.
16.Chinta SK, Landage SM, Krati Y (2013) Application of Chicken Feathers in Technical Textiles.
IJIRSET 2: 1158-1166
17. Giraldo L, Carlos J, Pirajan M (2013) Exploring the use of rachis of chicken feathers for
hydrogen storage. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis 104: 243-248.