Objective

Synthetic petrochemical-based composites are most commonly used in the manufacturing industry due to their invaluable properties such as durability, elasticity, and hardness. The motivation for this project is to transition away from the commonly used synthetic thermosets. Petrochemicals are in high demand and of limited supply since they are non-renewable. Therefore, alternative materials must be engineered for the future. The objective of this project is to make a renewable, fiber reinforced, thermosetting polymer. The major tasks of this project will involve research on what polymers are and how they are used, a variety of tests that will give data regarding the composite, and a development of  a final deliverable.

A polymer is a compound of high molecular weight derived either by the addition of many smaller molecules or by the condensation of many smaller molecules with the elimination of water or alcohol.  Most of the time people associate polymers with just plastics, but plastics are just one form of polymer.[1]  Natural polymers found in every day life include rubber and amber, while the range of synthetic polymers include things like nylon, silicone, Bakelite, neoprene, and polystyrene.  Manufacturers use polymers in the creation of a variety of products, from adhesives, like epoxy, and lubricants to implantable devices like orthopedic plates, artificial joints and heart valves.  Polymers can also be used in the production of non-plastic objects such as silicone and paper.[2]

The tests being performed on the composite as it developed will be carried out by a variety of machines.  The machines being used are the Dynamic Mechanical Analysis machine (DMA), the AR2000 rheometer, the Instron 3382 100kN Universal Test machine.  The DMA machine will be used to test for stress, temperature, frequency and other values that will be studied. A miniscule force is applied to a small sample of composite and continues over a given period of time as the sample is heated from negative one hundred fifty degrees Celsius to one hundred fifty degrees Celsius. For a known stress, the sample will deform a certain amount. In DMA this is done sinusoidally and how much the composite bends is related to its stiffness. [3]  From this test, two graphs will be constructed to show the stiffness, transition glass temperature, and the amount of energy lost as the sample heats.  The AR2000 rheometer is a viscometer which is able produce a broad spectrum of measurement including linear characterization, creep and relaxation experiments, monitoring of the kinetic for curing reactions or polymer crystallization amongst others.[4]  This machine will be utilized to get the viscosity level for each sample of resin produced.  The final machine being used doe this project is the Instron 3382 Test machine. This machine will measure the force required to bend a composite under three point loading conditions.  The machine will then give two different sets of data: one that indicates the transverse forces applied to the beam and the corresponding vertical displacements at that force and a second set that reveals the voltage values.[5]  These sets of data will be analyzed for each sample tested and compared to other results from multiple samples.

The final deliverable for this project will be a sample of the composite material, its various properties, and potential uses. The composite will be made out of cashew nut shell oil based polymer, which will be cured and reinforced by a renewable cellulose fiber called Biomid. Along with this tangible composite, there will be a set of data on this material’s properties which will be found through the testing and analysis explained in the above paragraph.  The goal for the deliverable is to be a composite made out of a renewable polymer and renewable fiber that has the same characteristics and strength as other synthetic composites out in the market today.

For more information on polymers, epoxies, and the Biomid fiber please see the Background Research tab or simply click Background Research, and for more information on the testing and results for this project please see the Results tab above or by clicking on Results.