Usability of Pine Sawdust and Calcite Together as Filler in Polyester Composites

Authors : Ilyas Kartal, Hilal Selimoğlu

Pages : 267-273

View : 44 | Download : 42

Publication Date : 2023-09-30

Article Type : Research

Abstract :Two different types of fillers are used in composites, natural and synthetic. Natural fillers are gaining popularity as an alternative to synthetic fillings due to low production cost, light weight, and abundance of renewable resources. Although thermoplastics are widely used as matrix material in natural fillers-filled composite materials, there are thermoset polymers such as epoxy and polyester. The most known and used natural-organic fillers are wood sawdust and fibres. Wood sawdust can be obtained easily and cheaply as a waste in furniture production and is generally used after appropriate sieving. In this study, general purpose polyester resin was preferred as matrix material. Calcite and pine wood sawdust used as fillers. Calcite is used as synthetic filler and pine wood sawdust is natural filler and can be found easily. Thus, the usability of natural and synthetic fillers together was investigated. Composite samples were prepared by pouring the mixture into an open Teflon mold. The physical properties of the samples such as tensile, impact, density and hardness were investigated. Images of broken surfaces were analysed by SEM. As a result of the study, it was evaluated that pine sawdust and calcite can be used together in polyester-based composite applications.
Keywords : polyester resin, pine sawdust, calcite, composite, mechanical properties