A systematic investigation on the influence of the chemical treatment of natural fibers on the properties of their polymer matrix composites

Abstract

This paper reports a systematic study of the effects on composite properties of different chemical treatments on natural fibers. Both short flax fibers and flax cellulose pulp in a polypropylene matrix have been investigated. The influence of treatments on fiber properties was investigated by means of spectroscopic, thermal and mechanical tests. Moreover, the effects of fiber treatment on the crystallinity of the matrix were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry and optical microscopy. The mechanical properties of the composites obtained were studied using tensile and bending tests. It is shown that most of the main properties of the composites can be improved by adequately treating the fibers. The results of this study provide a database mainly devoted to material selection for the automotive industry. This research has been performed as a part of the ECOFINA project in the framework of the 5th European Research Program of the European Community. Polym. Compos. 25:470–479, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.

The use of sugarcane bagasse in PP matrix composites: A comparative study of bagasse treatment using calcium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide on composite strength

“…The band at 1730 cm -1 is referred to the the C=O stretching of the acetyl groups present in hemicellulose. [11,12] That band was absent in fibers after alkali treatment using both solutions which explains a hemicelullose fraction removed in each treatment. [9] The relative absorbance of the primary and secondary peaks of OH groups at 1051 cm -1 and 1165 cm -1 of bagasse fibers treated with NaOH is higher than the ones treated using Ca(OH)2 as shown in Fig.…”

Improving the bonding between henequen fibers and high density polyethylene using atmospheric pressure ethylene-plasma treatments

“…High density polyethylene, HDPE (Petrothene) extrusion grade, was supplied by Quantum Chemical Inc. A melt flow index of 0.33 g/10 min was determined using ASTM standard D-1238-79 at 190°C and a weight of 2160 g. A density of 0.96 g/cm 3 was determined using ASTM standard D-792-86 and benzene as an immersion liquid. The melting point (135°C) was determined in a DSC-7 Perkin Elmer calorimeter.…”

“…Several chemical-based approaches have been used to improve the compatibility between natural fibers with different polymeric matrices, e.g. alkali treatments (mercerization), silanization, acetylation, benzoylation, maleated coupling agents, isocyanate treatments and grafting of synthetic polymers [1,3,7,12,13,[15][16][17]. Silanization is by far most effective fiber surface treatment, judged by the improvements in material property increases, above a 100% in the tensile and flexural strengths [11,12].…”

Thermal Degradation of Four Bamboo Species

“…The first stage of weight loss, that is, the dehydration phase, was dependent on the temperature ranging from 25 to 150 °C; this stage was attributed to moisture evaporation from the bamboo fibres. The DTG plot, which compares the rate of mass loss during the temperature scan, exhibited a distinct peak for this phase (Biagiotti et al 2004). The amount of moisture in a bamboo culm varies between species, in individual culms within same species and in different parts along the same bamboo culm (López 2003), and this resulted in different weight losses during this stage.…”