Evaluation of the mechanical and insulation properties of a polymeric composite with corn cob loads triturated

The objective of this work was to study the viability of the use of the crushed corn cob, employed as load in a composite polyester resin. The specimens were produced with 5, 10 and 20% by weight of the ground corn cob, as fine particles (FP), medium particles (MP) and large particles (LP) to investigate the influence of the loading content on the mechanical and thermal conductivity properties of the composite material. The results of the mechanical tests, the data of impact test presented a satisfactory result for all the composites. However, the photomicrographs of the composites through SEM indicated low mechanical load/matrix adhesion, with few signs of effective stress transfer between phases, noting that the most viable particle size is the fine particle (FP). The composites shown to be viable for thermal applications, with a thermal conductivity of 0.138 W/m lower than 0.21 W/m, being classified as thermal insulation.

Keywords: polyester resin, corn cob, modulus of elasticity, thermal conductivity, insulation.