No abstract

In this work, hazelnut shell (HS) particles were added to the bisphenol-A aniline-based benzoxazine (BA-a) matrix and micro-sized HS particles of varying weight percent (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%) were successfully blended with BA-a resin. The effects of reinforcing HS particles to the neat matrix were studied. The curing behavior, mechanical properties, and thermal degradation of the composites were performed using differential scanning calorimetry, tensile and impact tests, and thermogravimetric analysis. Glass transition temperature (T g ) was lowered to 16 C which is 4% less than the neat matrix, increase in char yield (Y c ) was recorded in composites. Tensile and impact strength of the prepared composites was improved significantly. There was 82.6% increase in Young's modulus and 74.1% increase in the tensile stress for the BA-a/HS composite containing 25 wt% HS particles. Meanwhile, the impact strength of the composites was elevated, and a maximum of 207% increase in impact strength was observed without sacrificing other properties of the matrix. Additionally, finite element analysis was carried out on a cantilever beam designed in CATIA V5 with the properties of neat BA-a and HS filled composites. The stress analysis was observed on different HS filled composites, showing better results for HS filled composites as compared to neat polymer.

In the current study, 1 wt%, NaOH treated pine cone (ATPC) particles composites with bisphenol‐A aniline based benzoxazine (BA‐a) matrix were prepared by isothermal compression method. Ultimate impacts of ATPC reinforcement on the thermomechanical, tensile, flexural, and impact properties of the composites were studied by using a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), a Universal testing machine, and a Tinius‐Olsen impact device, respectively. The thermal stability of ATPC particles was remarkably increased, TGA confirmed that particles will not be degraded during the curing. The DMA results of 30 wt% ATPC reinforced composites confirmed that the glass transition temperature, storage modulus, and loss modulus were 22°C, 2510, and 250 MPa higher than the neat matrix, respectively. In addition, the impact strength of the 30 wt% ATPC reinforced composites was nearly 3 times higher than the neat matrix, which confirmed that the matrix's brittleness is reduced, similar observation was confirmed by the Brostow and coworkers empirical model. Moreover, a gradual rise in the tensile and flexural properties was also recorded. We can easily conclude from the studied parameters that the ATPC particles can be used as a sustainable agro‐waste in polymeric composites.