INVESTIGATING THE EFFECT OF ALKALINE TREATMENT ON THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HAY-EPOXY COMPOSITES

Abstract

In this study, Barley straw/epoxy (BF/EP) composites were fabricated using the hand lay-up method. The research focused on how treating barley straw affects the mechanical properties of the barley straw-filled epoxy composites. The treatment involved a 5 wt% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. It was found that the tensile strength of untreated BF/EP composites was highest when 30 wt% barley straw was used. However, the highest tensile strength was achieved after treating the straw with NaOH, reaching 200 MPa, with a tensile modulus of 2500 MPa. In terms of flexural strength, the composites with 30 wt% barley straw and NaOH treatment also showed the best results, with a flexural strength of 220 MPa and a flexural modulus of 3600 MPa