Determination of elastic constants of epoxy resin/biochar composites by ultrasonic pulse echo overlap method

This study is carried out in order to determine the elastic properties of Epoxy Resin (ER) Composites reinforced with various mixtures of China Poplar Char (CPC) and Pine Cone Char (PCC) as biochars by ultrasonic wave velocity measurement method. The prepared chars are mixed with epoxy resin matrix at weight percentages of 10%, 20%, and 30% for preparing the ER/Biochars (BC) composites. The effect of biochar amounts on the elastic properties of the ER/BC composites are investigated by ultrasonic pulse echo overlap method. The morphologies of the samples are investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Based on the findings obtained from the present study, forming of the ER/CPC composites gives better values of elastic properties compared to forming of the ER/PCC composites. According to the obtained results, the composition ratio of 70:30 is the most appropriate composition ratio for both of the ER/CPC and the ER/PCC composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:2907–2915, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers