چكيده به لاتين
Abstract
The aim of the present research is to investigate the utilization of seashell waste which is combined mainly by CaCO3 as a bio-filler for polymers. In the present research, influences of seashell bio-filler on the flexural and tensile properties were experimentally studied. The surface modification of particles, using silane coupling agents, plays an important role in avoiding particle aggregation. A good surface modification leads to an optimum particle dispersion and improves the interfacial interaction of the particle to the matrix by upgrading the interfacial compatibility of them. Therefore, applying several coupling agents, surface modifications were examined on the seashell particles. By changing the effective factors of mechanical properties of seashell/epoxy composites, such as the particle size, distribution of fillers and strength of interfacial adhesion, a proper fabrication method was determined.
The surface modification of seashell particles by 3-Aminopropyl trimethoxy silane, 66% improvement in flexural strain energy and a slight improvement in the bending strength of seashell/epoxy composites containing 2 wt.% of modified seashell powder in comparison with the pure polymer was achieved. In addition, fabrication of seashell/epoxy composites containing 3 wt.% of seashell powders modified by 3-chloropropyl trimethoxy silane results in 31.9% improvement in the flexural strain energy and a slight increase in the bending modulus and bending strength. The experimental results were compared with results obtained by micromechanical theories. The experimental results were close to some of the theoretical results, however due to restrictive assumptions of some other micromechanical theories, a complete agreement between the results of experiment results and those micromechanical theories was not obtained. The size and the surface modification of the nanoparticles did not have a sever effect on the stiffness of the nanocomposites. However, the bending strength of nanocomposites was increased by decreasing the size of the nanoparticles, due to increasing the surface area of them.
Keywords: Seashell Powder, Surface Modification, Seashell/Epoxy Composites, Silane Coupling Agents
