Investigation of the Mechanical Properties and Changes in Water Absorption Capacity of Natural Fiber Reinforced Polyoxymethylene

Abstract

In this study, the changes in mechanical properties and changes in water absorption capacity of the polyoxymethylene (POM) with natural fiber reinforcement were investigated. Seaweed, rapeseed and acorn were used as natural fibers. Samples were prepared by mixing the powder of these fillers separately with the POM in 5%, 10% and 20% by weight. The mixtures were first obtained mechanically in a mixer and then obtained to be homogeneous in extrusion. The homogenized mixtures were granulated in the granulator by cracking and then poured into the injection machine to produce test bars. The tensile, bending strengths and isod impact strengths and melt flow indexes of the samples were examined and the changes in these properties due to increasing filler amount and filler type were discussed showing by graphs. The change in the melt flow index was carried out separately for both mechanically formed mixtures and homogeneously obtained mixtures, and the effect of homogeneity on fluidity was determined. Besides the mechanical properties, the changes in the water absorption capacity of the samples were also examined.

Keywords: polyoxymethylene, natural fibers, mechanical properties, melt flow index

DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/5-12-26