Thermo-mechanical properties of epoxidized hemp oil-based bioresins and biocomposites

Abstract

Novel epoxidized hemp oil-based biocomposites containing jute fibre reinforcement were produced at the Centre of Excellence in Engineered Fibre Composites (CEEFC) owing to the need to develop new types of biobased materials. Mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, Charpy impact and interlaminar shear), thermo-mechanical properties (glass transition temperature, storage modulus and crosslink density) and moisture-absorption properties (saturation moisture level and diffusion coefficient) were investigated and compared with samples containing commercially produced epoxidized soybean oil and a synthetic bisphenol A diglycidyl ether-based epoxy control, R246TX cured with a blend of triethylenetetramine and isophorone diamine. Scanning electron microscopy was also performed to investigate the fibre–matrix interface. Epoxidized hemp oil-based samples were found to have marginally superior mechanical, dynamic mechanical and similar water-absorption properties in comparison to samples made with epoxidized soybean oil bioresin; however, both sample types were limited to bioresin concentrations below 30%. Synthetic epoxy-based samples exhibited the highest mechanical, dynamic mechanical and lowest water-absorption properties of all investigated samples. This study has also determined that epoxidized hemp oil-based bioresins when applied to jute fibre-reinforced biocomposites can compete with commercially produced epoxidized soybean oil in biocomposite applications.

Interpenetrating Polymer Network (IPN) with Epoxidized and Acrylated Bioresins and their Composites with Glass and Jute Fibres

“…This effect was attributed to the superior mechanical properties of the synthetic E-glass fibres (see Table 1). The tensile and flexural strength and modulus of the laminates manufactured with the EP and VE neat resins were superior to EHO-and AEHO-based bio-resins and IPNs systems, which confirms the superior mechanical and physical properties of the synthetic resins Francucci et al 2013). Specifically, neat EP and VE resin samples exhibited approximately 2.0 to 2.5 times the flexural strength of EHO-and AEHO-based samples.…”

“…Hempseed oil has been suggested to be perfectly balanced in regards to the ratio (3:1) of the two essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids) for human nutrition. In recent years we have investigated the utilization of hemp oil as bio-source for the synthesis of thermoset bio-resins in the form of epoxidized hemp oil (EHO) (Manthey et al 2011;Manthey et al 2013;Francucci et al 2013) and acrylated epoxidized hemp oil (AEHO) Francucci et al 2014). However, those pioneering research works on hemp oil-based bio-resins were carried out on each individual bio-resin.…”

Influence of epoxidized linseed oil and sisal fibers on structure–property relationship of epoxy biocomposite

“…Proper wetting of fibers and compatibility between matrix and fiber is a dominant factor in obtaining reasonable fiber–matrix adhesion and achieving optimal properties of composite . To investigate the interfacial failure, the adhesion between the fibers and the matrix material, FE‐SEM micrograph of all composites is depicted in Fig.…”

“…Many researchers have focused attention on the development of petroleum‐based thermoset composite reinforced with sisal fibers (SFs) primarily to target the automotive and structural applications because of low density and specific properties of later . Although various attempts in making plant oil‐based green composites reinforced with natural fibers have been reported in the last decade, the use of SFs in development of the vegetable oil‐based green composites is limited .…”

Characterization of high glass transition temperature sugar-based epoxy resin composites with jute and carbon fibre reinforcement

“…Tensile, flexural and impact properties could be improved by hybridization with glass fibre and cellulose. Manthey et al [23] prepared jute biocomposites from blends of epoxidized hemp oil (EHO) and epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), respectively, with DGEBA. EHO and ESO jute-based samples displayed similar tensile behaviour at a concentration of 10 mass% bioresin, a significant reduction in mechanical properties occurred after 30 mass% bioresin content.…”