@article{
author = "Salah Adeen Embirsh, Hifa and Stajčić, Ivana and Gržetić, Jelena and Mladenović, Ivana O. and Anđelković, Boban and Marinković, Aleksandar and Vuksanović, Marija M.",
year = "2023",
abstract = "This paper presents sustainable technology for environmentally friendly composite production. Biobased unsaturated polyester resin (b-UPR), synthesized from waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) glycosylate and renewable origin maleic anhydride (MAnh) and propylene glycol
(PG), was reinforced with unmodified and vinyl-modified biosilica nanoparticles obtained from
rice husk. The structural and morphological properties of the obtained particles, b-UPR, as well as
composites, were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic
resonance spectroscopy (NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron
microscopy (TEM) techniques. The study of the influence of biosilica modification on the mechanical
properties of composites was supported by hardness modeling. Improvement of the tensile strength
of the b-UPR-based composite at 2.5 wt.% addition of biosilica modified with vinyl silane, named
“b-UPR/SiO2
-V” composite, has been achieved with 88% increase. The thermal aging process applied
to the b-UPR/SiO2
-V composite, which simulates use over the product’s lifetime, leads to the deterioration of composites that were used as fillers in commercial unsaturated polyester resin (c-UPR).
The grinded artificially aged b-UPR composites were used as filler in c-UPR for the production of a
table top layer with outstanding mechanical properties, i.e., impact resistance and microhardness, as
well as fire resistance rated in the V-0 category according to the UL-94 test. Developing sustainable
composites that are chemically synthesized from renewable sources is important from the aspect of
preserving the environment and existing resources as well as the extending their life cycle.",
publisher = "MDPI",
journal = "Polymers",
title = "Synthesis, Characterization and Application of Biobased Unsaturated Polyester Resin Reinforced with Unmodified/Modified Biosilica Nanoparticles",
volume = "15",
number = "18",
pages = "3756",
doi = "10.3390/polym15183756"
}