High-Performance, Eco-Friendly and Lightweight Furniture Development

Abstract

This study aimed to develop hybrid furniture materials with high strength and thermal stability by coating beverage can waste with glass-fibre fabric and jute fabric. This product is more resistant to water absorption and burning compared to conventional wood-based panels used in Turkey and worldwide. At the same time, it is suitable for use in humid environments such as kitchens and bathrooms and on wet floors, offering high performance.

1. Introduction

In recent years, alongside developing technological and economic parameters, significant changes have also occurred in environmental awareness. Environmental issues are increasingly taking priority among the fundamental policy priorities of countries worldwide. Producers are also shifting towards production methods that align with these sensitivities. Within this scope, numerous innovations have emerged in raw material selection and production methods. The furniture industry is one of the industries that has recorded serious progress in recent years both in Turkey and worldwide. Furniture manufacturers are seeking to both win consumer preference and produce quality products at more economical levels. Within the scope of this scientific study, by utilizing various waste sources, the objective was to develop high-value-added materials that serve as substitutes for traditional panel products while being lighter and more environmentally friendly, yet more durable and resistant to burning and moisture. 2. Material and Method 2.1. Material In this research, hybrid sandwich panels with various layer structures were produced. Within this scope, various surface layer materials were coated onto the surfaces of beverage can waste. Thus, innovative products with both hybrid and sandwich structures were developed. 2.2. Method The materials used in the production of hybrid sandwich panels were obtained from the market as waste. Production was carried out by layering the materials according to the planned layer structures, placing the layers in a mold, and pressing them under specific temperature and pressure for a defined period. The appearances of the hybrid sandwich panels with different layer structures obtained after pressing are presented in the figures below.

3. Results and Recommendations

In this project, hybrid biocomposites with sandwich structures were produced by coating jute fabric and glass-fibre fabrics onto used beverage cans. Test specimens were prepared from the produced sandwich materials in accordance with international standards. Within this scope, tests such as density, water absorption, bending strength, etc. were performed. Thus, the performance characteristics of these furniture materials in their areas of use were determined and compared with other panel products. Density is one of the important physical properties of a material. In the tests conducted, it was determined that the densities of the produced panels were close to each other. There are fluctuations in the resistance shown against moisture depending on the density variation in the material. According to the data obtained in water absorption tests, the developed sandwich panels show significantly higher resistance to moisture compared to both solid wood and wood-based panels. Considering the bending strength results obtained, some of the developed panel groups show meaningfully superior strength compared to wood-based panels. When the results obtained are evaluated collectively, it can be said that the developed sandwich-structured hybrid biocomposite panels have the potential to be used in furniture production as an alternative to existing wood-based panel products. The fact that these sandwich-structured hybrid materials have high resistance values relative to their lightness makes them very attractive. In addition to having high potential for use in humid environments such as kitchens and bathrooms and on wet floors, they can also be evaluated in the automotive industry. While solid wood materials and wood-based panel products have low fire resistance in their current form, this innovative material is more resistant to burning due to the glass-fibre fabric in its surface layers.

4. Furniture R&D Project Competition and Turkey Innovation Week 2016

This project, prepared under the guidance of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeki Candan, Faculty Member at the Department of Forest Industry Engineering, Istanbul University Faculty of Forestry, won the Best 2nd Project Award at the 4th Furniture R&D Project Competition held under the coordination of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Economy, TIM (Turkish Exporters Assembly), AKİB and TÜBİTAK. Under the coordination of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Economy, the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) organized "Turkey Innovation Week" on 8-10 December 2016 at the Istanbul Congress Center. At the event, individuals who have made a difference in their fields from 10 countries shared their experience on innovation with participants. In addition, numerous conferences and workshops were held. This project on the development of environmentally friendly and lightweight furniture, prepared by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeki Candan, Forest Industry Engineer Ekrem Cihat Gökçeoğlu, Istanbul University Institute of Science Master's Student Mert Yıldırım, and Istanbul University Department of Forest Industry Engineering Students Sivan Sunobar and Gani Can Somuncu, was invited by TIM to Turkey Innovation Week. Mert Yıldırım and Sivan Sunobar made oral presentations about the projects in the TIM Entrepreneurship Hall. Additionally, the projects were exhibited to visitors in the hall where award-winning projects were displayed during the event. More than 60,000 domestic and foreign participants attended Turkey Innovation Week, which is held to develop R&D and innovation, develop high-value-added products, increase export volume and develop university-industry cooperation, and is the largest and most important event of its kind in Turkey. Ekrem Cihat Gökçeoğlu / Department of Forest Industry Engineering - Faculty of Forestry - Istanbul University Mert Yıldırım / Master's Student - Institute of Science - Istanbul University Sivan Sunobar / Undergraduate Student - Forest Industry - Faculty of Forestry - Istanbul University Gani Can Somuncu / Undergraduate Student - Forest Industry - Faculty of Forestry - Istanbul University Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeki Candan / Department of Forest Industry Engineering - Faculty of Forestry - Istanbul University

References

[1] Gökçeoğlu, E.C. 2016. Undergraduate Thesis, Istanbul University, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Industry Engineering, Sarıyer, Istanbul.

[2] Yıldırım, M. 2015, Undergraduate Thesis, Istanbul University, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Industry Engineering, Sarıyer, Istanbul.