Study of mechanical properties of waste biomass reinforced urea-resorcinol-formaldehyde composites

Abstract

Natural fibers play an important role in developing high performing fully biodegradable composites which will be a key material to solve the current ecological and environmental problems. Due to enormous advantages of composites reinforced with natural fibers, a study on pine needles reinforced urearesorcinol- formaldehyde composites has been made. Present investigation has revealed that urea-formaldehyde resin in 1.0: 2.5 ratio exhibits optimum mechanical behavior whereas in case urea-resorcinol- formaldehyde resin, the best mechanical behavior was shown by 1.0: 1.0: 2.5 ratios. However, reinforcing of this resin with pine-needles of 1 cm size and evaluation of their mechanical properties showed that mechanical properties increase with reinforcement. These results were further supported by the SEM and thermal studies. © Copyright E-Journal of Chemistry 2004-2011.