Effect of Marble Pine Cone Waste Ratıos on Mechanical Properties of Polyester Matrix Composites

Abstract

There is still a going research interest to find out alternative source of materials for composite manufacturing. Therefore, alternative non-wood based materials may play an important role in the forest product industry. Pine cone, a renewable resource, has not been used effectively. It is collected, dried to facilitate seed release, and generally discarded or burned in stoves in winter. Also, cone collection does not require extra costs. In this study, polymer matrix composites were manufactured using pine cone and marble wastes as filler and polyester as polymer matrix with casting method. Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide as hardener and cobalt naphthenate as accelerator were used to produce polyester matrix composites. Polyester: filler ratio was kept in constant and pine cone: marble waste ratios were changed. Mechanical properties of composite materials were investigated and the final product tested to determine their flexural strength, elastic modulus, hardness as well as some physical features such as density and water absorption. The experimental results showed that strength and hardness of the composite materials decreased with the increase in pine cone: marble waste ratio.