Manufacturing and Characterization of Green Composites with Partially Biobased Epoxy Resin and Flaxseed Flour Wastes

Abstract

[EN] In the present work, green¿composites from a partially biobased epoxy resin (BioEP) reinforced with lignocellulosic particles, obtained from flax industry by¿products or wastes, have been manufactured by casting. In this study, the flaxseed has been crushed by two different mechanical milling processes to achieve different particle sizes, namely coarse size (CFF), and fine size (FFF) particle flaxseed flour, with a particle size ranging between 100¿220 ¿m and 40¿140 ¿m respectively. Subsequently, different loadings of each particle size (10, 20, 30, and 40 wt%) were mixed with the BioEP resin and poured into a mold and subjected to a curing cycle to obtain solid samples for mechanical, thermal, water absorption, and morphological characterization. The main aim of this research was to study the effect of the particle size and its content on the overall properties of composites with BioEP. The results show that the best mechanical properties were obtained for composites with a low reinforcement content (10 wt%) and with the finest particle size (FFF) due to a better dispersion into the matrix, and a better polymer¿particle interaction too. This also resulted in a lower water absorption capacity due to the presence of fewer voids in the developed composites. Therefore, this study shows the feasibility of using flax wastes from the seeds as a filler in highly environmentally friendly composites with a wood¿like appearance with potential use in furniture or automotive sectors.