Abstract
In the present work, green-composites from a partially biobased epoxy resin (BioEP) reinforced with lignocellulosic particles, obtained from flax industry by-products or wastes, have been manufactured by casting. In this study, the flaxseed has been crushed by two different mechanical milling processes to achieve different particle sizes, namely coarse size (CFF), and fine size (FFF) particle flaxseed flour, with a particle size ranging between 100–220 µm and 40–140 µm respectively. Subsequently, different loadings of each particle size (10, 20, 30, and 40 wt%) were mixed with the BioEP resin and poured into a mold and subjected to a curing cycle to obtain solid samples for mechanical, thermal, water absorption, and morphological characterization. The main aim of this research was to study the effect of the particle size and its content on the overall properties of composites with BioEP. The results show that the best mechanical properties were obtained for composites with a low reinforcement content (10 wt%) and with the finest particle size (FFF) due to a better dispersion into the matrix, and a better polymer-particle interaction too. This also resulted in a lower water absorption capacity due to the presence of fewer voids in the developed composites. Therefore, this study shows the feasibility of using flax wastes from the seeds as a filler in highly environmentally friendly composites with a wood-like appearance with potential use in furniture or automotive sectors.
Highlights
During the last years, there has been a significant increase in social concern for the environmental problem generated by petrochemical polymeric materials [1,2,3]
fine flax flour (FFF) particle distribution shows that their size changes in the 40–140 μm range with smaller average particle size, of about 91 μm, and the most abundant content of particles is in the range of 80–100 μm
Conclusions coarse (CFF) and fine (FFF), and the filler content (10, 20, 30 and 40 wt%) on the mechanical, thermal, water uptake and morphological properties of composites of a partially biobased epoxy (BioEP) resin processed by casting. The addition of this lignocellulosic filler into the biobased epoxy resin (BioEP) matrix resulted in a decrease in flexural strength and impact absorption energy with increasing filler content
Summary
There has been a significant increase in social concern for the environmental problem generated by petrochemical polymeric materials [1,2,3] For this reason, one of the main objectives of the scientific community is the research and development of new highly environmentally friendly materials which could be suitable to replace petroleum-based polymers to reduce their carbon footprint [4]. Interesting works have been developed with rice husks [9,10,11], peanut shells [7,12,13], almond shells [14,15,16], hazelnut shells [17,18], date palm seeds [19], lemon peel [20], Posidonia oceanica [21,22], olive stones [23], among others Most of these lignocellulosic particles come from agricultural by-products or wastes that are currently used for animal feeding and just left on controlled landfills
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