scholarly journals Fully Biodegradable Composites: Thermal, Flammability, Moisture Absorption and Mechanical Properties of Natural Fibre-Reinforced Composites with Nano-Hydroxyapatite

Materials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pooria Khalili ◽  
Xiaoling LIU ◽  
Zirui ZHAO ◽  
Brina Blinzler

Natural fibre-reinforced poly(lactic acid) (PLA) laminates were prepared by a conventional film stacking method from PLA films and natural fabrics with a cross ply layup of [0/90/0/90/0/90], followed by hot compression. Natural fibre (NF) nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) filled composites were produced by the same manufacturing technique with matrix films that had varying concentrations of nHA in the PLA. Their flammability, thermal, moisture absorption and mechanical properties were analysed in terms of the amount of nHA. The flame behavior of neat PLA and composites evaluated by the UL-94 test demonstrated that only the composite containing the highest quantity of nHA (i.e., 40 wt% nHA in matrix) was found to achieve an FH-1 rating and exhibited no recorded burn rate, whereas other composites obtained only an FH-3. The thermal degradation temperature and mass residue were also observed, via thermogravimetric analysis, to increase when increasing concentrations of nHA were added to the NF composite. The tensile strength, tensile modulus and flexural modulus of the neat resin were found to increase significantly with the introduction of flax fibre. Conversely, moisture absorption was found to increase and mechanical properties to decrease with both the presence of NF and increasing concentrations of nHA, and subsequent mechanical properties experienced an obvious reduction.

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 489-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
John O. Akindoyo ◽  
Mohammad Dalour Hossen Beg ◽  
Suriati Ghazali ◽  
Muhammad Remanul Islam

Abstract The wettability, interfacial shear strength (IFSS), and Weibull characteristics of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibers were studied to evaluate the mechanical properties of EFB- and poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based composites. The fiber surface was modified through ultrasound and poly(dimethyl siloxane) treatment. The effects of treatment on the morphology, wettability, and structure of fibers were examined by scanning electron microscopy, contact angle, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, respectively. In addition, the Weibull characteristic was used to find the variability in strength of the fibers with respect to surface treatment. Furthermore, the IFSS of EFB fiber-PLA sandwich was investigated through single-fiber pull-out test, using a less strenuous technique. The mechanical properties (tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, and flexural modulus) of the composites were determined through mechanical testing. A comparison was drawn among the properties of PLA, raw EFB fiber-based composites, and treated EFB fiber-based composites. Additionally, the inter- and intra-relationship of fiber treatment, wettability, and IFSS with the mechanical properties of the PLA/EFB composites were also accounted.


2019 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Meor Syazalee ◽  
Rozli Zulkifli

Humidity during the fabrication of natural fibre reinforced composites can harm their mechanical performance. This study examines the effect of humidity during the fabrication of unidirectional kenaf/polylactic acid (PLA) biocomposites on their dynamic and static mechanical properties. Kenaf fibres were conditioned at different relative humidity (RH) levels (40% RH, 60% RH and 80% RH) before being pressed with PLA to form biocomposites. Kenaf/PLA biocomposites were analysed using dynamic mechanical analysis, fracture toughness in mode II, tensile and flexural. Results indicated that the value of GIIC and storage modulus decreased when the relative humidity increased. Reduced tensile and flexural modulus were observed when kenaf was exposed to high relative humidity of 80% RH. However, the form of unidirectional kenaf affected the properties and reduced the drop value in the tensile modulus. The optimum relative humidity to produce kenaf/PLA biocomposites is 40% RH.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (15) ◽  
pp. 4581
Author(s):  
Baljinder K. Kandola ◽  
S. Ilker Mistik ◽  
Wiwat Pornwannachai ◽  
A. Richard Horrocks

Biocomposites comprising a combination of natural fibres and bio-based polymers are good alternatives to those produced from synthetic components in terms of sustainability and environmental issues. However, it is well known that water or aqueous chemical solutions affect natural polymers/fibres more than the respective synthetic components. In this study the effects of water, salt water, acidic and alkali solutions ageing on water uptake, mechanical properties and flammability of natural fibre-reinforced polypropylene (PP) and poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites were compared. Jute, sisal and wool fibre- reinforced PP and PLA composites were prepared using a novel, patented nonwoven technology followed by the hot press method. The prepared composites were aged in water and chemical solutions for up to 3 week periods. Water absorption, flexural properties and the thermal and flammability performances of the composites were investigated before and after ageing each process. The effect of post-ageing drying on the retention of mechanical and flammability properties has also been studied. A linear relationship between irreversible flexural modulus reduction and water adsorption/desorption was observed. The aqueous chemical solutions caused further but minor effects in terms of moisture sorption and flexural modulus changes. PLA composites were affected more than the respective PP composites, because of their hydrolytic sensitivity. From thermal analytical results, these changes in PP composites could be attributed to ageing effects on fibres, whereas in PLA composite changes related to both those of fibres present and of the polymer. Ageing however, had no adverse effect on the flammability of the composites.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3234
Author(s):  
Wangwang Yu ◽  
Lili Dong ◽  
Wen Lei ◽  
Yuhan Zhou ◽  
Yongzhe Pu ◽  
...  

To develop a new kind of environment-friendly composite filament for fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing, rice straw powder (RSP)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) biocomposites were FDM-3D-printed, and the effects of the particle size and pretreatment of RSP on the properties of RSP/PLA biocomposites were investigated. The results indicated that the 120-mesh RSP/PLA biocomposites (named 120#RSP/PLA) showed better performance than RSP/PLA biocomposites prepared with other RSP sizes. Infrared results showed that pretreatment of RSP by different methods was successful, and scanning electron microscopy indicated that composites prepared after pretreatment exhibited good interfacial compatibility due to a preferable binding force between fiber and matrix. When RSP was synergistically pretreated by alkaline and ultrasound, the composite exhibited a high tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, and flexural modulus of 58.59, 568.68, 90.32, and 3218.12 MPa, respectively, reflecting an increase of 31.19%, 16.48%, 18.75%, and 25.27%, respectively, compared with unmodified 120#RSP/PLA. Pretreatment of RSP also improved the thermal stability and hydrophobic properties, while reducing the water absorption of 120#RSP/PLA. This work is believed to provide highlights of the development of cost-effective biocomposite filaments and improvement of the properties of FDM parts.


2021 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 263498332110074
Author(s):  
Henry C Obasi ◽  
Uchechi C Mark ◽  
Udochukwu Mark

Conventional inorganic fillers are widely used as fillers for polymer-based composites. Though, their processing difficulties and cost have demanded the quest for credible alternatives of organic origin like coconut shell fillers. Dried shells of coconut were burnt, ground, and sifted to sizes of 63, 150, 300, and 425 µm. The ground coconut shell particles (CSP) were used as a filler to prepare polypropylene (PP) composites at filler contents of 0% to 40% via injection melt blending process to produce PP composite sheets. The effect of the filler particle size on the mechanical properties was investigated. The decrease in the size of filler (CSP) was found to improve the yield strength, tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and hardness of PP by 8.5 MPa, 15.75 MPa, 1.72 GPa, 7.5 MPa, 100 MPa, and 10.5 HR for 63 µm at 40%, respectively. However, the elongation at break and modulus of resilience of the PP composites were seen to increase with increase in the filler size. Scanning electron microscope analysis showed that fillers with 63 µm particle size had the best distribution and interaction with the PP matrix resulting in enhanced properties.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (23) ◽  
pp. 7295
Author(s):  
Hom Nath Dhakal ◽  
Chulin Jiang ◽  
Moumita Sit ◽  
Zhongyi Zhang ◽  
Moussa Khalfallah ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to evaluate the moisture absorption behaviour and its influence on the mechanical properties of newly developed sandwich biocomposites with flax fibre-reinforced poly-lactic acid (PLA) face sheets and soft cork as the core material. Three different types of sandwich biocomposite laminates comprised of different layup configurations, namely, non-woven flax/PLA (Sample A), non-woven flax/PLA and cork as core (Sample B) and non-woven flax/paper backing/PLA, cork as core (Sample C), were fabricated. In order to evaluate the influence of moisture ingress on the mechanical properties, the biocomposites were immersed in seawater for a period of 1200 h. The biocomposites (both dry and water immersed) were then subjected to tensile, flexural and low-velocity falling weight impact tests. It was observed from the experimental results that the moisture uptake significantly influenced the mechanical properties of the biocomposites. The presence of the cork and paper in sample C made it more susceptible to water absorption, reaching a value of 34.33%. The presence of cork in the core also has a considerable effect on the mechanical, as well as energy dissipation, behaviours. The results of sample A exhibited improved mechanical performance in both dry and wet conditions compared to samples B and C. Sample A exhibits 32.6% more tensile strength and 81.4% more flexural strength in dry conditions than that in sample C. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray micro-CT images revealed that the failure modes observed are a combination of matrix cracking, core crushing and face core debonding. The results from this study suggest that flax/PLA sandwich biocomposites can be used in various lightweight applications with improved environmental benefits.


Holzforschung ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 70 (5) ◽  
pp. 439-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ru Liu ◽  
Shupin Luo ◽  
Jinzhen Cao ◽  
Yu Chen

Abstract Wood flour/polylactic acid (WF/PLA) composites were produced with a WF content of 50% based on three types of waterborne polyacrylate (PA) emulsions including a PA homopolymer emulsion and two types of silane-PA copolymer emulsions as coupling agents. Two silanes were in focus, namely, γ-methacryloxypropyl- trimethoxysilane (silane-1) and vinyltrimethoxysilane (silane-2). The emulsions and the modified WFs were characterized, and the effects were investigated in terms of emulsion type and their loading levels on the mechanical properties of WF/PLA composites. (1) Both types of silanes could be successfully copolymerized with PA to form stable emulsions. (2) With increasing PA loading, the mechanical properties (except for flexural modulus) of the composites increased at first before reaching the maximum values at 4% PA loading and then the properties worsened. However, these values were larger than those of pure composites, especially in cases when PA-silane emulsions were applied. (3) PA modified with silane-1 showed the best coupling effect among all the three PA emulsions. The results can be interpreted that PA emulsions are effective coupling agents for the preparation of high-performance WPCs.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. P. Rejisha ◽  
S. Soundararajan ◽  
N. Sivapatham ◽  
K. Palanivelu

This paper evaluated the effect of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) on the properties of PBT/PC blends. The nanocomposites were obtained by melt blending MWCNT in the weight percentages 0.15, 0.3, and 0.45 wt% with PBT/PC blends in a high performance corotating twin screw extruder. Samples were characterized by tensile testing, dynamic mechanical analysis, thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Concentrations of PBT and PC are optimized as 80 : 20 based on mechanical properties. A small amount of MWCNT shows better increase in the thermal and mechanical properties of the blends of PBT/PC nanocomposite when compared to nanoclays or inorganic fillers. The ultimate tensile strength of the nanocomposites increased from 54 MPa to 85 MPa with addition of MWCNT up to 0.3% and then decreased.The tensile modulus values were increased to about 60% and the flexural modulus was more than about 80%. The impact strength was also improved with 20% PC to about 60% and with 0.15% MWCNT to about 50%. The HDT also improved from 127°C to 205°C. It can be seen from XRD result that the crystallinity of PBT is less affected by incorporating MWCNT. The crystallizing temperature was increased and the MWCNT may act as a strong nucleating agent.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jyotishkumar Parameswaranpillai ◽  
Abhilash George ◽  
Jürgen Pionteck ◽  
Sabu Thomas

The cure reaction, rheology, volume shrinkage, and thermomechanical behavior of epoxy-TiO2 nanocomposites based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A cured with 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone have been investigated. The FTIR results show that, at the initial curing stage, TiO2 acts as a catalyst and facilitates the curing. The catalytic effect of TiO2 was further confirmed by the decrease in maximum exothermal peak temperature (DSC results); however, it was also found that the addition of TiO2 decreases the overall degree of cure, as evidenced by lower total heat of reaction of the cured composites compared to neat epoxy. The importance of cure rheology in the microstructure formation during curing was explored by using rheometry. From the PVT studies, it was found that TiO2 decreases the volume shrinkage behavior of the epoxy matrix. The mechanical properties of the cured epoxy composites, such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, impact strength, and fracture toughness of the polymer composites, were examined. The nanocomposites exhibited good improvement in dimensional, thermal, and mechanical properties with respect to neat cross-linked epoxy system. FESEM micrographs of fractured surfaces were examined to understand the toughening mechanism.


2011 ◽  
Vol 393-395 ◽  
pp. 76-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai Bing Huang ◽  
Hu Hu Du ◽  
Wei Hong Wang ◽  
Hai Gang Wang

In this article, wood-plastic composites(WPCs) were manufactured with wood flour(80~120mesh、40~80mesh、20~40mesh、10~20mesh) combing with high density polyethylene(HDPE). Effects of the size of wood flour on mechanical properies and density of composites were investigated. Results showed that particle size of wood flour had an important effect on properitiesof WPCs. Change of mesh number had a outstanding effect on flexural modulus, tensile modulus and impact strength, howere, little effect on flexural strength and tensile strength. When mesh number of wood flour changed from 80~120mesh to 10~20mesh,flexural modulus and tensile modulus were respectively enhanced by 42.4% and 28.4%, respectively, and impact strength was decreased by 35.5%.Size of wood flour basically had no effect on density of composite within 10~120mesh. The use of wood flour or fiber as fillers and reinforcements in thermoplastics has been gaining acceptance in commodity plastics applications in the past few years. WPCs are currently experiencing a dramatic increase in use. Most of them are used to produce window/door profiles,decking,railing,ang siding. Wood thermoplastic composites are manufactured by dispering wood fiber or wood flour(WF) into molten plastics to form composite materials by processing techniques such as extrusion,themoforming, and compression or injection molding[1]. WPCs have such advantages[2]:(1)With wood as filler can improve heat resistance and strength of plastic, and wood has a low cost, comparing with inorganic filler, wood has a low density. Wood as strengthen material has a great potential in improving tensile strength and flexural modulus[3];(2) For composite of same volume, composites with wood as filler have a little abrasion for equipment and can be regenerated;(3)They have a low water absorption and low hygroscopic property, They are not in need of protective waterproof paint, at the same time, composite can be dyed and painted for them own needs;(4)They are superior to wood in resistantnce to crack、leaf mold and termite aspects, composites are the same biodegradation as wood;(5)They can be processed or connected like wood;(6)They can be processed into a lots of complicated shape product by means of extrusion or molding and so on, meanwhile, they have high-efficiency raw material conversion and itself recycle utilization[4]. While there are many sucesses to report in WPCs, there are still some issues that need to be addressed before this technology will reach its full potential. This technology involves two different types of materials: one hygroscopic(biomass) and one hydrophobic(plastic), so there are issues of phase separation and compatibilization[5]. In this paper, Effects of the size of wood powder on mechanical properties of WPCs were studied.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document