ARS | Publication request: "GREEN" COMPOSITES AND NANOCOMPOSITES FROM SOYBEAN OIL

Submitted to: Materials Research Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 13, 2005
Publication Date: June 4, 2006
Citation: Liu, Z., Erhan, S.Z. 2006. "Green" composites and nanocomposites from soybean oil [abstract]. 14th International Conference on the Strength of Materials (ICSMA14). p. 103.

Technical Abstract: Polymeric materials prepared from renewable natural resources have been enjoying a continuous growing interest in the past decades from the academic and applied point of view. The advantages of these polymers are their low cost, in some cases, easy availability and possible biodegradability. Bio-based polymers are moving into the mainstream and polymers that are biodegradable or based on renewable "feedstock" may be competing with commodity plastics. Among products from agricultural resources, natural oils may constitute raw materials useful in polymer synthesis. In this study, we reported preparation of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) based "green" composites and nanocomposites by compression molding and extrusion solid freeform fabrication (SFF) methods. SFF is a method of making shapes without molds. This method has the potential to produce new materials and complex composites that could not be made in any other way. The high strength and stiffness composites and nanocomposites are formed through fiber and organoclay reinforcement. E-glass, carbon, mineral fibers, flax fibers and organoclay are used in the formulations. It was found that the type of fiber affects the properties of the composites and that a combination of two types of fibers could be used to achieve higher strength and stiffness parts than can be obtained from a single fiber type. In addition, the effects of curing temperature and fiber concentration etc. on the mechanical properties of composites are reported.