Production of sustainable biocomposite materials developed using different agricultural waste powders as reinforcement

Abstract The use of agricultural wastes containing natural fibres in the materials industry within the framework of environmental approaches offers various opportunities such as efficient use of resources, waste management, carbon footprint reduction and sustainability. Biocomposite materials reinforced with agricultural wastes are one of the important approaches for sustainable waste management. In the study, mechanical, thermal and microstructural properties of biocomposite materials produced by mixing bioresin and waste walnut, hazelnut and rice husk powders were investigated. Thus, these wastes were ground with a ring mill and pulverized in the range of −77/+45 μm. Biocomposite materials were produced by mixing 5 % by weight micropowders with epoxy resin. Tensile, three-point bending, izod impact and hardness tests were performed to determine the mechanical properties of the biocomposite materials. In addition, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis were performed on the biocomposite materials. The highest tensile strength was obtained in 5 % walnut powder-reinforced biocomposite material. All biocomposite materials had higher modulus of elasticity and lower elongation than the base material. After the base material, the highest flexural strength was obtained in the biocomposite material reinforced with 5 % rice husk powder. All reinforcing elements negatively affected the izod impact strength of the biocomposite materials. The base material and all biocomposites lost mass between approximately 200–600 °C.