Research Information System
12. International European Congress on Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences, Tirane, Albania, 16 - 18 May 2025, pp.349-359, (Full Text)
The high carbon emissions and environmental impacts occurring in the production of synthetic fiber and polymer matrix materials have increased the search for sustainable materials in many sectors, especially in the automotive industry. For this reason, biocomposites stand out as environmentally friendly alternatives. In this study, hemp fabric, hemp seed oil, and hemp seed powder were combined in different ratios (for hemp oil 2.5%-7.5%-12.5%-17.5%, for hemp powder 5%-10%-15%-20%) and fiberreinforced and without fiber biocomposite samples were produced. The produced samples were subjected to a water absorption test, and the water absorption behaviours of the samples were examined. Epoxy resin was used as the matrix material. Biocomposite samples were produced using the vacuumassisted resin transfer method and the open molding method, which is different from traditional production methods but has a simpler production. A total of 48 samples of 6 different combinations were produced in accordance with ASTM D5229 standard and subjected to water absorption test at onehour intervals on the first day and at 24-hour intervals on the following days for a total of 336 hours. As a result of the water absorption test, it was observed that in samples without fiber reinforcement, as the oil content increased, the water absorption rate decreased, while in samples containing hemp powder, as the dust content increased, the void ratio increased, and the water absorption rate increased, and in samples where hemp oil and powder were used together, increasing dust ratio at fixed oil ratios increased water absorption. The least water absorption was measured as 1.1% in the EHO125P5 (12.5% epoxy hemp oil /5% powder) sample, and the highest water absorption was measured as 4.96% in the EHO125P20 (12.5% epoxy hemp oil/20% powder) sample. In hemp fiber reinforced samples, when the powder ratio was increased up to 15%, the water absorption rate decreased, while an increase in water absorption rates was observed at powder ratios of 20% and above. In samples containing only oil, the increase in the oil ratio also increased the water absorption rate. While the powder ratio remained constant in samples containing oil and dust, it was observed that increasing oil ratios increased the amount of water absorption. The least water absorption was measured as 5.99% in the VEHO25P15 (2.5% epoxy hemp oil/ 15% powder) sample, and the highest water absorption was measured as 19.12% in the VEHO175P15 (17.5% epoxy hemp oil/15% powder) sample. The results revealed that the samples with 12.5% oil ratio and 5% powder ratio were the least water absorbing samples in both fiber and without fiber samples.