No abstract

No abstract

The use of natural fibers to reinforce polymers is an established practice, and biocomposites have gained an increased interest in areas such as automotive, construction, and agriculture. The purpose of the present work was the preparation and study of fully biodegradable ("green") composite materials using poly(butylene succinate) (PBSu) as polymeric matrix and hemp fibers and shives as fillers. Composites containing 15, 30, 50, 60, and 70 wt% of fillers were prepared by melt mixing in a twin screw extruder. The composites were studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimeter while the dispersion and interfacial adhesion were studied with scanning electron microscopy. From mechanical properties measurements, it was found that tensile and impact strength are both affected by the type and the amount of the used filler. The degree of crystallinity of PBSu was found to decrease by increasing the filler content, although that both fillers can act as nucleating agents. Finally, the degradation rate during enzymatic hydrolysis and soil burial increased in all biocomposites by increasing the filler content. PBSu/ hemp shive composites showed higher biodegradation rates than PBSu/hemp fiber composites. POLYM. COM-POS., 37:407-421,

Micro-Fibrillated Cellulose (MFC) is a new type of bio-based additive, coming from wood cellulose. It can compete and substitute oil derived chemicals in several application fields. In the present work, the use of micro-fibrillated cellulose, in waterborne adhesive systems applied in the manufacture of composite wood-based panels was evaluated. Research was conducted to test the potential of improving the performance of wood-based panel types such as particleboard, waferboard or randomly-oriented strand board and plywood, by the application of MFC and the substitution of conventional and non-renewable chemical compounds. The approaches followed to introduce MFC into the adhesive systems were three, i.e., MFC 2% suspension added during the adhesive resin synthesis, MFC 10% paste admixed with the already prepared adhesive resin and MFC 2% suspension admixed with the already prepared resin. It was found that MFC improves not only the performance of the final wood panel products but also the behaviour of the applied adhesive polymer colloids (e.g., rheology improvement), especially when admixed with the already prepared resins. Moreover, it was proven that when MFC is introduced into the adhesive resin system, there is a possibility of decreasing the resin consumption, by maintaining the board performance. MFC’s robustness to pH, shear and temperature makes it a highly interesting new additive for adhesive producers. In addition, its natural origin can give adhesive producers the opportunity to move over to more environmentally friendly product solutions.