Properties of polylactic acid biocomposite reinforcedwith alkaline surface modi̇fied wood sawdust

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the use of biodegradable polymers due to the increase in environmental awareness. In addition, researchers who are engaged in the development of polymer composites are very important in order to reduce the harmful effects of these materials on the environment, to ensure that the existing raw materials are used more consciously, or to recycle the used raw materials and to find new material sources. In our country, wood shavings are released as industrial waste after manufacturing production. Wood has a lignocellulosic structure and contains a lot of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and some extractive and mineral substances. These waste wood chips, which are released from the enterprises, are also used in various fields in terms of industry, in addition to having negative effects in terms of the environment, and this is important. PLA is a biodegradable polymer with thermoplastic properties. Although similar to synthetic polymers, PLA, which has mechanical and thermal properties, is brittle and has low impact resistance, which limits its use. In the content of the thesis, industrial waste larch sawdust and hornbeam sawdust were modified with sodium hydroxide chemical, and the properties obtained as a result of reinforcing the biodegradable PLA biopolymer, which is formed from renewable resources, were investigated. In order to examine the physical properties of the biocomposite samples after the studies, the density, water uptake rate and thickness increase rates were measured in hours, weeks and months. In order to examine their mechanical properties, the samples were subjected to tensile and bending strength tests. Thermogravimetric analysis to look at their thermal properties and FTIR analyzes to determine the properties of chemical interactions between the blended materials were carried out. The results obtained were supported and examined with figures and graphics. Pine modified (MÇ15) in terms of physical and mechanical properties showed the best properties. According to TGA analysis, modified hornbeam (MG15) and pine wood (Ç15) exhibited the best properties. In all analyzes, 15% treated pine sample gave significant results. Generally speaking, pine wood has been found to outperform hornbeam wood. Differences were observed in the FTIR spectrum of PLA and wood samples and in the FTIR spectrum peaks of biocomposite samples, indicating that the desired interaction between the components occurred in composite production.