Mechanical and Flame Retardancy Properties of Polyester - (pine cone/boron oxide)Composites

Abstract

Abstract In recent years researchers focused on solid waste management due to the environmental issues and ecological susceptibility. Renewable resources such as natural fibers are environmentally friendly and low-cost alternatives when compared to other fibers like glass and carbon. Turkey has much potential of pine forests which is 54,000 ha and its total stone pine cone production is annually 3500 tons. Pine cone as a solid waste was used to produce composite materials due to these various advantages. Boron compounds compresses combustion by sealing the surface of the burning material and inhibit mass transfer of combustible vapors by blocking its contact with oxygen. Considering these properties of boron it was used with pine cone as a filler to provide flame retardancy. Boron oxide and waste pine cone fibers were used to manufacture the polyester composites by using casting process. Flame retardancy (limiting oxygen index (LOI)), some mechanical (bending strength, flexural modulus) and physical properties (water absorption, swelling thickness) were investigated at different fiber content. SEM analysis of the final products was performed to observe morphological structure.