Mechanical and Metallographic Investigation of Natural Fiber Reinforced (Jute-Linen-Hemp) Composite Materials

Abstract

With the development of technology, especially due to the inadequacy of polymer-based pure materials, composite materials have been developed and their usage areas have increased over time. In recent years, the concern for sustainability and renewability in production brought about by increasing environmental awareness has made the use of environmentally friendly composites increasingly widespread. Although biocomposites, which are defined by the fact that at least one of the materials in their content is natural, are much more environmentally friendly compared to their alternatives, they are used in limited areas in the industry due to their hydrophilic structure and poor mechanical properties. In this study, the mechanical and metallographic properties of natural fiber reinforced epoxy composites (NFRC) consisting of jute, flax and hemp were investigated to demonstrate their suitability as reinforcement materials. Vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VDRTK) method was used as the production method. When we examined metallographically; it was seen that the natural fibers were not a problem in terms of the presence of natural fibers in the structure and the penetration of epoxy into the interfaces. Tensile tests revealed different mechanical behaviors among the composites, with flax composite having the highest tensile strength (75.56 MPa) and jute and hemp having low tensile strength compared to flax. Although it seems to be weaker in terms of mechanical and microstructure compared to industrially produced man-made fibers (glass fiber), it has been revealed that it is more useful in the production of complex structured parts due to its ability to penetrate and settle in intermediate regions.

Keywords

• Natural fiber
• epoxy
• mechanical properties
• tensile strength

Doğal Elyaf Takviyeli (Jüt-Keten-Kenevir) Kompozit Malzemelerin Mekanik ve Metalografik Olarak İncelenmesi

Abstract

Teknolojinin gelişmesiyle birlikte özellikle polimer esaslı saf haldeki malzemelerin yetersiz kalmasından dolayı kompozit malzemeler geliştirilmiş ve zamanla kullanım alanları çoğalmıştır. Son yıllarda artan çevre bilincinin getirdiği üretimde sürdürülebilirlik ve yenilenebilir, çevre dostu kompozitlerin kullanımını giderek yaygınlaşmaktadır. İçeriğindeki malzemelerden en az birisinin doğal olması ile tanımlanan biyokompozitlerin, alternatiflerine kıyasla çok daha çevre dostu olmalarına karşın, hidrofilik yapıda olmaları ve mekanik özelliklerinin zayıf olması sebebiyle sanayide kısıtlı alanda kullanılmaktadır. Bu çalışmada takviye malzemesi olarak kullanıla bilirliğini ortaya koymak için jüt, keten ve kenevir den oluşan doğal lif takviyeli epoksi kompozitlerin (NFRC) mekanik ve metalografik açıdan ortaya koyduğu farkındalıklar incelenmiştir. Üretim yöntemi olarak vakum destekli reçine transfer kalıplama (VDRTK) metodu kullanılmıştır. Metalografik olarak incelediğimizde; doğal liflerin yapı içerisinde yer alması ve epoksinin ara yüzeylere nüfuziyeti açısından problem oluşturmadığı görülmüştür. Çekme testleri, kompozitler arasında farklı mekanik davranışları ortaya çıkarmıştır; keten kompoziti en yüksek çekme mukavemetini (75,56 MPa) jüt ve kenevirin ise ketene kıyasla düşük çekme mukavetine sahip olduğu görülmektedir. Endüstriyel olarak üretilen yapay elyaflara (Cam elyafı) kıyasla mekanik ve mikro yapı açısından zayıf görünse de özellikle karmaşık yapılı parçaların üretiminde nüfuziyet ve ara bölgelere yerleşebilecek olmasından kaynaklı daha kullanışlı olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır.

Keywords

• Doğal elyaf
• epoksi
• mekanik özellikler
• çekme mukavemeti

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