Development and characterization of carbonized chicken feather fiber modified, carbon fabric reinforced epoxy composites using membrane assisted vacuum infusion

In the first part of the study, chicken feathers were mildy pyrolyzed. When heated, their hollowness due to the crystal segments results in a highly porous cross-linked structure with a relatively low density. The aim of the heating or, in other words, carbonization process is to obtain maximum carbon content as possible as it is, thereby enhancing the properties of the produced fibers to be utilized as filler constituent in polymers, so that a remarkable improvement for thermal and mechanical properties in the resulting composites can be reasonably achieved. In the second part of the study, at very low loading rates, (0.3, 0.5 and 1 wt. %), amino-silanized via (3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS) and non-silanized CCFFs were homogenously dispersed within epoxy resin using high shear microprocessor and the composites will be obtained afterwards. The produced composites were investigated using Thermal Mechanical Analyzer (TMA) and Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA). Note that silane coupling agent is used to enhance chemical interactions between the CCFF surface and the epoxy resin. In the last section of this study carbon fabric / mildly pyrolyzed CCFF modified epoxy matrix composites were produced, taking into account the epoxy resin with the best thermal and mechanical properties as matrix material ( 1 wt.% silanized CCFF) Carbon fabric reinforced polymer composites with CCFF modified epoxy matrix resin were manufactured via membrane assisted vacuum infusion process (MAVIP). The mechanical properties of the carbon faBric reinforced composites were then investigated, systemetically. All the findings obtained were then evaulated and disccused in a consince manner. Keywords: Chicken feather fiber, Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTS), Membrane Assisted Vacuum Infusion Process (MAVIP)