PREPARATION OF BIOCOMPOSITE MATERIALS BASED ON EPOXY AND BACTERIAL CELLULOSE

Abstract

Today, using bacterial cellulose (BC) as an additive is the most effective
mean for improving performance of epoxy composites. This paper presents an
experimental investigation the influence of alkaline treatment on properties of
BC membrane and effects of bacterial cellulose (BC) on some mechanical
properties of BC reinforced epoxy composites. The tests showed that suitable
conditions for cleaning BC by alkaline solution: Alkaline solution concentration:
0.25N; treatment period: 60 minutes; temperature: 95oC. The mechanical
properties of the composite materials based on epoxy epikote 240/epikure 207
reinforced with BC were investigated. The results were shown that the BC
content had a negligible influence on tensile strength and flexural strength of
composites. But it increases the fatigue by 4 times with 0.1wt % BC and by 7
times with 0.3 wt% BC.