Thermal Properties of Hemp Fiber Reinforced Plant-Derived Polyamide Biomass Composites and their Dynamic Viscoelastic Properties in Molten State

Abstract

To further enhance the mechanical, thermal, and tribological properties of short natural fiber-reinforced biopolymer composites, it is very critical to understand thermal properties of these biomass composites and their dynamic viscoelastic properties in the molten state. The aim of this study is to experimentally investigate the thermal properties of hemp fiber filled plant-derived polyamide 1010 composites and their dynamic viscoelastic properties in the molten state. It was found that the addition of HF with PA1010 has a strong influence on the thermal properties such as DMA, TGA, and DSC. HF is very effective for improving the thermal and mechanical properties. The effect of alkali treatment on the dynamic viscoelastic properties of the HF/PA1010 composites in the molten state differs according to whether alkali treatment uses silane coupling agent or not. The viscoelastic properties of NaClO 2 are higher than those of NaOH. Silane coupling agents have a remarkable influence on rheological properties such as storage modulus, loss modulus, and complex viscosity in the low angular frequency region in the molten state, temperature dependences of rheological properties, and relationship between the phase angle and complex modulus. These rheological behaviors are also strongly influenced by the type of silane coupling agents.

Effect of Silane Coupling Agent on Tribological Properties of Hemp Fiber-Reinforced Plant-Derived Polyamide 1010 Biomass Composites

“…Natural fibers, such as bamboo, banana, flax, hemp, jute, kenaf, ramie, and sisal fibers, used for reinforcing polymer composites, are attracting considerable attention from industry [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. These natural fibers have unique ecological advantages over inorganic fibers such as glass and carbon fibers because they are renewable, have relatively high strength, stiffness, low density, are low cost, biodegradable, and can be incinerated [ 8 ].…”

“…In previous studies, we investigated the thermal, rheological, mechanical and tribological properties of hemp fiber (HF) reinforced plant-derived polyamide 1010 (PA1010) biomass composites (HF/PA1010) to develop new engineering materials and tribomaterials made of 100% inedible plant-derived materials [ 7 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]. Hemp fiber is a bast fiber crop and an annual plant that grows in temperate climates [ 4 ].…”

“…As castor oil is not used for food, there is no competition with human food production. It was found that the addition of HF, the surface treatment of HF such as alkali treatment by NaOH, and the surface treatment by aminosilane coupling agent, have strong influences on the thermal, rheological, mechanical and tribological properties of HF/PA1010 biomass composites [ 7 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 ]. In particular, the effect of surface treatment on these properties of HF/PA1010 biomass composites differs according to whether alkali treatment by NaOH is performed on the aminosilane coupling agent uses or not [ 8 , 40 , 45 , 47 ].…”

Modern biopolyamide-based materials: synthesis and modification

“…The second stage, at 300 °C, is probably the degradation process of cellulose and polymeric matrix. Moreover, TG data revealed that in the case of composites with modified hemp fibers, thermal stability of composites containing fibers treated with the combination of sodium hydroxide and amino silane is higher than those in which fibers were treated with only one of the chemicals, and also higher than those containing raw fibers [77].…”

“…Another approach was reported by Nishitani et al Investigations carried out on biopolyamide 10.10 reinforced by hemp fibers modified with sodium hydroxide solution, sodium chlorite solution (NaClO 2 ) and surface treated using ureidosilane coupling agent, showed that fibers after treatment with NaClO 2 and silane coupling agent had better adhesion to the matrix than those which were treated only with NaOH [77].…”