Development and investigation of properties biocomposite material from hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) fibers for automotive industry

The advantages of plant-based natural fibers, which are widely used in the production of biocomposite materials, in terms of lightness and economy, as well as their biodegradable nature, make the use of such fibers stand out. Today, the use of natural fibers in the production of composite materials is increasing rapidly within the framework of ecological and sustainable approaches. Studies on the development of biocomposites are of great importance because the plant fibers used as reinforcement elements are biodegradable and recyclable, have properties such as high specific strength and low density, and their raw material resources are renewable and economical. Hemp is from the Cannabinaceae family and is used for fiber production and is of industrial importance. In addition to being fast growing and economical, the use of the plant as a reinforcement material in the production of composite materials provides significant advantages due to the high tensile strength and low density of its fibers. In addition, one of the weaknesses of fibers is that they are not resistant to decay and fire. In this thesis study, fibers modified by adding boric acid to hemp fabrics were used in the development of biocomposite materials as reinforcement materials. Biocomposite materials were produced using the vacuum infusion method. Tensile and bending tests were performed to determine the mechanical properties of biocomposite materials. The properties of the materials were examined in detail using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA) and fireproofing test to determine their thermal properties, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) to determine the fiber-matrix interface bond, surface properties and chemical compositions. Additionally, water retention behavior of the materials was determined in order to be evaluated as biomaterials.