Phenol-Furfural Resin/Montmorillonite Based High-Pressure Green Composite from Renewable Feedstock (Saccharum munja) with Improved Thermo-Mechanical Properties

This research endeavour aimed to explore the potential of a native, nonedible and low market value plant feedstock, i.e., Saccharum munja for green synthesis of woodware materials and improve its features by incorporating an economical blending material. A significant amount of furfural, i.e., 58%, was extracted from Saccharum munja through the modified acid digestion method. Extracted furfural was reacted with phenol to prepare phenol-furfural resin, an alternative to phenol-formaldehyde resin but with no harmful effects for humans. The synthesized resin was also blended with montmorillonite clay after modification via Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment for improved thermo-mechanical properties. These resins and composites were characterized by XRD, SEM, and FTIR spectroscopy. Resultant resins and composites were further employed as a binding agent to make high-pressure composite from leftover plant residue by hot-press method. The resultant product was subjected to TGA analysis and furnished high value of degradation temperature (T(deg)), i.e., 607 °C. Prepared high-pressure composite samples were mechanically tested through compression tests by Tinius Olsen Testing Machine and hardness tests by Rockwell Hardness Tester. Its tensile strength value was 58.3 MPa while hardness value was found to be 64 RHB which was greater than mild copper with hardness value 48.9 RHB. Thus, green high-pressure composite material was successfully developed by employing Saccharum munja and montmorillonite clay while no toxic resin was used, nor was any residue left over.