Advanced Composite Materials

The Korean Society for Composite Materials (한국복합재료학회)
권호 표지

Development and mechanical properties of bagasse fiber reinforced composites

  • Cao, Yong (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yamaguchi University) ;
  • Goda, Koichi (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yamaguchi University) ;
  • Shibata, Shinichi (Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, University of the Ryukyus)
  • Published : 2007.12.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

Environment-friendly composites reinforced with bagasse fiber (BF), a kind of natural fiber as the remains from squeezed sugarcane, were fabricated by injection molding and press molding. As appropriate matrices for injection molding and press molding, polypropylene (PP) and polycaprolactone-cornstarch (PCL-C) were selected, as a typical recyclable resin and biodegradable resin, respectively. The mechanical properties of BF/PP composites were investigated in view of fiber mass fraction and injection molding conditions. And the mechanical properties and the biodegradation of BF/PCL composites were also evaluated. In the case of injection molding, the flexural modulus increased with an increase in fiber mass fraction, and the mechanical properties decreased with an increase in cylinder temperature due to the thermal degradation of BF. The optimum conditions increasing the flexural properties and the impact strength were $90^{\circ}C$ mold temperature, 30 s injection interval, and in the range of 165 to $185^{\circ}C$ cylinder temperature. On the other hand, as to BF/PCL-C fully-green composites, both the flexural properties and the impact strength increased with an increase in fiber mass fraction. It is considered that the BF compressed during preparation could result in the enhancement in mechanical properties. The results of the biodegradability test showed the addition of BF caused the acceleration of weight loss, which increased further with increasing fiber content. This reveals that the addition and the quantities of BF could promote the biodegradation of fully-green composites.

Keywords

References

  1. B. K. Sarkar and D. Ray, Effect of the defect concentration on the impact fatigue endurance of untreated and alkali treated jute-vinylester composites under normal and liquid nitrogen atmosphere, Compos. Sci. Technol. 64, 2213-2219 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2004.03.017
  2. X. Lu, M. Q. Zhang, M. Z. Rong, G. Shi and G. C. Yang, Self-reinforced melt processable composites of sisal, Compos. Sci. Technol. 63, 177-186 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0266-3538(02)00204-X
  3. M. Shibata, K. Takachiyo, K. Ozawa, R. Yosomiya and H. Takeishi, Biodegradable polyester composites reinforced with short abaca fiber, J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 85, 129-138 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1002/app.10665
  4. J. Rout, M. Misra, S. S. Tripathy, S. K. Nayak and A. K. Mohanty, The influence of fibre treatment on the performance of coir-polyester composites, Compos. Sci. Technol. 61, 1303-1310 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0266-3538(01)00021-5
  5. A. K. Bledzki and J. Gassan, Composites reinforced with cellulose based fibre, Prog. Polym. Sci. 24, 221-274 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-6700(98)00018-5
  6. D. Ray, B. K. Sarkar, A. K. Rana and N. R. Rose, The mechanical properties of vinylester resin matrix composites reinforced with alkali-treatment jute fibres. Composites: Part A 32, 119-127 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-835X(00)00101-9
  7. X. H. Li, Y. Z. Meng, S. J. Wang, A.V. Rajulu and S. C. Tjong, Completely biodegradable composites of poly(propylene carbonate) and short, lignocellulose fabric Hildegardia populifolia, J. Polym. Sci.: Part B 42, 666-675 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1002/polb.10761
  8. A. K. Mohanty, M. A. Khan and G. Hinrichsen, Influence of chemical surface modification on the properties of biodegradable jute fabrics-polyester amide composite, Composites: Part A, 31, 143-150 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-835X(99)00057-3
  9. M. L. Hassan and A. M. A. Nada, Utilization of lignocellulosic fibers in molded polyester composites, J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 87, 653-660 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1002/app.11400
  10. M. M. Nassar, E. A. Ashour and S. S.Wahid, Thermal characteristics of bagasse, J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 61, 885-890 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-4628(19960808)61:6<885::AID-APP1>3.0.CO;2-D
  11. S. Ochi and H. Takagi, Biodegradation behavior of unidirectional fiber-reinforced 'Green' composites, J. Soc. Mat. Sci. Japan 53, 454-458 (2003) (in Japanese).