Producing chestnut shell fiber reinforced polypropylene(PP) biocomposites and investigation of the properties of them

It is seen in both scientific studies and commercial applications that in order to minimize the use of energy and the use of raw materials/resources that are decreasing day by day, there is an increasing tendency towards environmentally friendly processes. This situation increases the importance of material selection. At least one component of the biocomposite materials is of natural origin. Therefore, they are partially environmentally friendly materials. Biocomposite materials can be used as an alternative to petroleum-derived materials. Because biocomposite materials can meet and improve their properties and even be preferred instead of them. In this direction, when natural fibers are compared to synthetic fibers; they are preferred because they are obtained from renewable resources, have a sustainable process, are generally low cost and have acceptable mechanical properties. Within the scope of this thesis; polypropylene polymer was chosen as the matrix material for reasons such as low cost, processability, and compatibility with different production techniques. Polypropylene has a wide usage area in industry (packaging, automotive, textile etc.). Polypropylene polymer was supplied from the supplier company in powder form. On the other hand, Anatolian Chestnut spreads naturally in the Black Sea, Marmara and Aegean regions of our country. Chestnut shells were chosen as reinforcing material for this study. They were supplied from a food company in Bursa and also the shells are industrial waste for that company. Chestnut shells were crushed and sieved and brought into powder form in specified sizes. After removing the possible moisture content of the chestnut shells, they were mixed with the polypropylene polymer in powder form at predetermined ratios. 8 different contents (0%, 3%, 6%, 9%, 12%, 15%, 20%, 25%) were created, one of which was the control sample with the pure form of polypropylene. Mixtures in powder form prepared with different contents were processed by extrusion process. Biocomposites in strip form were broken into granule form. And then, the biocomposite granules were converted from granule form to sheet form using the hot pressing process. In order to measure the mechanical properties of the bicomposite samples, pieces of the required dimensions were cut. When the mechanical properties of biocomposite samples are evaluated; In the tensile test, it was observed that 118.746 mm elongation was obtained under a tensile load of 1076,595 N in the sample with 3% chestnut fruit shell content. As a result of this thesis, it has been observed that industrial wastes have the potential to be reclaimed.