Obtaining an Eco-Friendly Biocomposite Based on Walnut Shell for Use in Furniture Production

Polymer composite materials are modern industrial products containing reinforcing fillers obtained from renewable agricultural and plant raw materials. The results of this study showed the effect of a natural filler consisting of walnut shells on the physical and mechanical properties of biomaterials. Using simple technology and an environmentally friendly approach, a formaldehyde-free biomaterial based on polypropylene modified with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), was obtained. The effect of processing parameters (Relative density, Compression strength, Bending strength, Impact viscosity, Water absorption) on the physical and mechanical properties of biomaterials was observed. As a result of modification with TEOS, the mechanical characteristics of biomaterials, as well as their operational properties, were improved. The optimal composition of the developed modified biocomposites is 60 wt.%, while the strength and impact strength indicators are maximum and are respectively: 65.87 MPa, 43.25 MPa and 6.8 kJ/m2, which allows the use of the developed composites for the manufacture of unloaded furniture elements. The effect of the new material on the biological system was studied. The obtained result showed that the biocomposite did not affect the total number of leukocytes in the peripheral blood, and did not change the histoarchitecture of the liver and brain tissues in adult white mice.