Investigation of Mechanical Properties of Domestic Black Tea Waste Filled Vinylester Composites

Abstract

Recently, green composites have been produced by using renewable resources in order
to find a solution to problems such as increasing environmental concerns and
decreasing reserves. It is a sustainable composite with its ability to adapt to nature and
the environment, to use waste, to show a certain strength, to be processed in a simple
way, and which does not require new production techniques, can be processed on micro
or nano scale, can be recycled, have the quality of being renewed. is highly preferred. In
this study, domestic black tea waste was used as a filler. As the matrix material,
vinylester resin is preferred because it can be easily processed at room conditions and is
less costly. Waste tea was added to the matrix as a filler in an open mould at the rates of
0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25%. Tensile, impact and hardness tests were performed
on composite samples. Fractured surface examinations of the samples were also
examined by SEM. When the results are compared, it can be said that the 10% domestic
black tea waste filled vinylester composite has slightly better mechanical properties
than the other samples. Thus, it was evaluated that domestic black tea waste could be
used as a filler in composite applications.