TY - JOUR

T1 - Agro-based fiber/polymer composites, blends and alloys

AU - Sanadi, Anand R.

AU - Rowell, Roger M.

AU - Caulfield, Daniel F.

PY - 1996

Y1 - 1996

N2 - Newer materials and composites that have both economic and environmental benefits are being considered for a wide variety of applications. Natural agro-based (lignocellulosic) have excellent specific mechanical properties and are potentially outstanding reinforcing fillers in thermoplastic composites. The specific tensile and flexural moduli, for example, of a 50% by volume of kenaf-PP composite compares favorably with a 40% by weight of glass fiber-PP injection molded composite. Results indicate that kenaf fibers are a viable alternative to inorganic/mineral based reinforcing fibers as long as the right processing conditions and aids are used, and for applications where the higher water absorption of the agro-based fiber composite is not critical. Recent research indicates that the lignin and possibly the hemicelluloses in agro-based fibers can be chemically modified to reduce the matrix flow temperature of the fiber allowing them to be thermally molded at temperatures below their decomposition. These plasticized matrix agro-fibers can then be grafted with modified thermoplastics to make agro-fiber/thermoplastic alloys.

AB - Newer materials and composites that have both economic and environmental benefits are being considered for a wide variety of applications. Natural agro-based (lignocellulosic) have excellent specific mechanical properties and are potentially outstanding reinforcing fillers in thermoplastic composites. The specific tensile and flexural moduli, for example, of a 50% by volume of kenaf-PP composite compares favorably with a 40% by weight of glass fiber-PP injection molded composite. Results indicate that kenaf fibers are a viable alternative to inorganic/mineral based reinforcing fibers as long as the right processing conditions and aids are used, and for applications where the higher water absorption of the agro-based fiber composite is not critical. Recent research indicates that the lignin and possibly the hemicelluloses in agro-based fibers can be chemically modified to reduce the matrix flow temperature of the fiber allowing them to be thermally molded at temperatures below their decomposition. These plasticized matrix agro-fibers can then be grafted with modified thermoplastics to make agro-fiber/thermoplastic alloys.

KW - Agro-based fibers

KW - Composites

KW - Fiber/thermoplastic alloys

KW - Kenaf

KW - Lignocellulosics

KW - Maleated polypropylene

KW - Matrix modification

KW - Physical properties

KW - Polypropylene

KW - Thermoplastics

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=5244359788&partnerID=8YFLogxK

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:5244359788

VL - 21

SP - 7

EP - 17

JO - Polymer News

JF - Polymer News

SN - 0032-3918

IS - 1

ER -