Examining the breaking and bending behaviors of the polymethylmethacrylate composites reinforced with hazelnut shell powder

Abstract

The objective of the present study is to reveal the toughening effect of the hazelnut shell on the brittle matrices by using the bending and breaking methods. The polymethylmethacrylate composites reinforced with hazelnut shell powder with 50µ particle size at the weight concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% were prepared. The polymer beam samples were exposed to heat cure procedure and the initial notches were created at a/W=0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5. The Mode I breaking behaviors of the notched at single edge and non-notched composite samples were examined by using three-point bending test. The critical stress intensity factor (KIC), J-integral, initial notch depth, and compliance methods were used in calculations. Besides them, the bending module and bending stress values were calculated. The microstructures of HNSP/PMMA composites were determined by using XRD (x-ray diffractometer), FTIR (Fouirer Transform Infrared Spektrofotometre), and SEM (scanning electron microscope) analyses. According to the results obtained, it was determined that the bending strength, elasticity module, and fracture toughness values increased at 10% additive ratio for the HNSP (hasel nut shell flour)/PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) composites.