Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Fishbone‐based Epoxy Composites: The Effects of Thermal Treatment
Abstract
Fishbones are hydroxyapatite‐based waste materials. They can be used in the form of particles as filler or additive in polymer composites. The surface of the particles can be modified using heat or thermal treatment. In this work, the fishbone particles (FBPs) were used in epoxy composites for the semi‐structural applications. The composites were prepared using a solution‐cast method. The effect of thermal treatment of the FBPs on the performance of the composites was investigated. The mechanical testing, thermo‐gravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry measured the performance of the composites. The chemical structure and morphological properties of the composites were observed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Results showed that the tensile and flexural strength of the composites were improved by 30% and 200%, respectively, compared to the neat epoxy (NE) as an effect of the thermal treatment. It was also noticed that theTg, Tm and Tc of the modified composite were found significantly higher compared to other composites. The FBPs formed a hybrid domain within the composites when they interact with the epoxy. Such strong bonding can protect the composites from the external forces. Based on the performance, it can be suggested that the composites can be used where a semi‐flexible scaffold is required.
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