From goat hair to engineering, from wood dust to music

Faculty members of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MAKÜ Faculty of Engineering and Architecture have started to recycle waste in their studies conducted through various research collaborations.

Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Ahmet Uyumaz stated that the studies aim to reduce environmental pollution, conserve natural resources, and obtain high value-added products from waste.

Stating that the decrease of natural resources, the environmental effects of fossil fuels, and the damage caused by human activities to nature necessitate the development of environmentally friendly materials, Uyumaz noted that efforts are ongoing to provide academic and financial support for projects.

New materials from goat hair and eggshell

In research conducted by Prof. Dr. Ahmet Çalık, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serkan Ateş, and Dr. Faculty Member Lokman Yünlü through different collaborations, waste is being evaluated in the production of metal and polymer-based composite materials. In a project led by Dr. Faculty Member Lokman Yünlü, polymer-based composites are also being developed from waste.

Researchers inspired by the local honam goats of Burdur are using goat hair and horn in the development of polymer-based materials. Eggshell and waste glass powders are being evaluated in the production of aluminum-based composites.

The use of marble and waste tile powders along with industrial slags in different metal composites is also being researched. The hardness, wear behavior, and durability of the produced materials are being examined to determine in which fields they can be used in engineering.

Olive and coffee bean, seashells, and goat horn powder are added to polymer-based composites as fillers or reinforcements. Textile waste is used in epoxy-based composites.

Cura and sipsi produced with 3D printer

Within the scope of the research, traditional instruments like cura and sipsi were produced using wood dust-based production materials in 3D printers. A trial listening session is planned in a sound studio to evaluate the sound characteristics of the instruments.

The behavior of composites produced with waste-based materials against sound is also being examined with special measurement setups. Data is being obtained to enable the materials, whose microscopic structures are analyzed with an electron microscope, to be used in different fields where sound properties are important.

New designs for aviation and medicine are being researched

At the university, structures that can expand laterally when pulled are also being studied. The behavior of these structures, which have potential use in aviation and space technologies, under different load and temperature conditions is being examined with computer-aided calculations.

In the research where stent designs that can be used in medical applications are also addressed, the aim is to develop structures suitable for the needs of different sectors. Thus, the sustainable material approach is combined with advanced engineering designs. 

Contribution to Zero Waste and COP31 goals

The studies at MAKÜ align with the goals of the Zero Waste Movement initiated by Emine Erdoğan, the wife of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in 2017, which aims to conserve resources and recycle waste into the economy.

The research also contributes to the goals of efficient resource use, waste reduction, and minimizing the environmental impacts of production highlighted in the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP31, which Turkey will host in Antalya from November 9-20, 2026.