Agri-residual Filler Based Bio-Composites: Synergistic Effect of Organo-sulfide Coupling Agent and Alkali Treatment on Mechanical Properties

Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene compatibilizer (MAPP) and chitosan (CS) were mixed and used as a compound coupling agent to modify the PP matrix. 5 wt% NaOH and 10 wt% NaOH aqueous solution were used to treat corn stalk fiber (CSF), respectively. The effect of the complex coupling agent and the alkali treatment on the mechanical properties of CSF/PP composite was investigated. Morphological observation of the fracture surfaces was accepted to confirm CSF dispersion and wetting with the help of SEM. The results of the water absorption further demonstrated the binding of the interface between the CSF and the PP matrix. The wetting of the CSF in the PP was improved with the addition of the complex compatibilizer (5% MAPP + 5% CS). The formation of chemical bonding between the fiber and the matrix resulted in enhancing the interfacial compatibility between them. Compared with the pure PP, the flexural strength of 15-UT-5MAPPCS (63.14 MPa) and 15-UT-5MAPPCS (69.35 MPa) increased by 22.5% and 34.5%, respectively. The complex compatibilizer can replace alkaline treatment process to improve the mechanical properties of the composite.

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Improving mechanical properties of ramie/poly (lactic acid) composites by synergistic effect of fabric cyclic loading and alkali treatment

Journal of Industrial Textiles ◽

10.1177/1528083716648763 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 390-407 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jianxia Yang ◽

Luping Zhu ◽

Zhuo Yang ◽

Lan Yao ◽

Yiping Qiu

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Tensile Strength ◽

Lactic Acid ◽

Cyclic Loading ◽

Synergistic Effect ◽

Interfacial Adhesion ◽

Alkali Treatment ◽

Flexural Modulus ◽

Poly Lactic Acid ◽

Orientation Factor

Natural cellulose fiber reinforced biopolymer composites have attracted increasing attention due to environmental concerns. However, these fibers have relatively low mechanical properties and poor interfacial adhesion with matrices, limiting their composite mechanical properties. This study investigates the synergistic effect of two recently developed techniques to maximize the mechanical performance of ramie/poly (lactic acid) laminated composites, namely alkali treatment to loosen fiber molecular structure and to increase fiber surface roughness and subsequent cyclic loading treatment to fabrics to increase their tensile strength and modulus. The results show that the treated fabrics have increased crystallinity and crystal orientation factor as well as better orientation of fibers and more uniform structures, leading to 11% improvement in fabric tensile strength and 57% enhancement of tensile strength (90.9 MPa), 48% higher tensile modulus (5.6 GPa), 18% higher flexural strength (149.4 MPa), and 91% higher flexural modulus (8.2 GPa) for the corresponding composites. Meanwhile, postmortem analysis shows that better interfacial adhesion is achieved using this approach.

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Effects of Different Pretreatments of Wood Fiber on Mechanical Properties of Biodegradable Composite

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.150-151.1438 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 150-151 ◽

pp. 1438-1443

Author(s):

Yi Qiang Wu ◽

Zhi Yong Qin ◽

Yan Qing ◽

Xin Gong Li

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Stearic Acid ◽

Polylactic Acid ◽

Coupling Agent ◽

Composite System ◽

Alkali Treatment ◽

Wood Fiber ◽

Biodegradable Composite ◽

The Impact ◽

Agent Treatment

Biodegradable composites of polylactic acid reinforced with wood fiber were fabricated by using twin screw extruder followed by the injection molding machine. The effects of different pretreatments of wood on mechanical properties of the biodegradable composite were discussed. The nature of composites were also examined through scanning electron microscope and Infrared Spectrum Analysis, the results reveal that both acid and stearic acid could be used as effective surface modifier for wood fiber/polylactic acid system, the composite system by adding Benzoic acid, the tensile strength has improved greatly, and about stearic acid composite system, the impact strength has improved significantly; After alkali treatment, coupling agent treatment and combination of alkali treatment and coupling agent treatment, and the use of alkali treatment and the coupling agent treatment is the best, follow by alkali treatment.

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Effect of alkali treatment and coupling agent on thermal and mechanical properties of Opuntia ficus-indica cladodes fibers reinforced HDPE composites

Polymer Bulletin ◽

10.1007/s00289-021-03619-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anass Ait Benhamou ◽

Abdelghani Boussetta ◽

Mehdi Nadifiyine ◽

Amine Moubarik

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Coupling Agent ◽

Alkali Treatment ◽

Thermal And Mechanical Properties ◽

Opuntia Ficus Indica

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Quantitively Characterizing the Chemical Composition of Tailored Bagasse Fiber and Its Effect on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Polylactic Acid-Based Composites

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym11101567 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 1567 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Haoqun Hong ◽

Ruijing Xiao ◽

Quannan Guo ◽

Hao Liu ◽

Haiyan Zhang

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Coupling Agent ◽

Silane Coupling Agent ◽

Natural Fiber ◽

Alkali Treatment ◽

Natural Fibers ◽

Fiber Reinforced Polymer ◽

Fiber Reinforced ◽

Reinforced Polymer ◽

Silane Coupling

Natural fiber reinforced polymer-based composites have been growing into a type of green composites. The properties of natural fiber reinforced polymer-based composites are closely related to the structure of natural fibers. Bagasse fiber (BF) is one of the most used natural fibers for preparing natural fiber reinforced polymer-based composites. However, few examples of previous research touch on the quantitatively characterization of structure of BF and its effect on the properties of BF reinforced polymer-based composites. In this work, four kinds of BF including untreated BF (UBF), alkali treated BF (ABF), BF modified by silane coupling agent (SBF), and BF modified combining alkali treatment with silane coupling agent (ASBF) were prepared and melting blended with polylactic acid (PLA) to prepare PLA/BF composites. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetry (TGA) and mechanical properties testing were used to characterize and analyze the structure and properties of modified BF and its reinforced PLA-based composites. Results showed that the used methods changed the structure of BF and their bonding modes. The surface energies of UBF, ABF, SBF, and ASBF were 19.8 mJ/m2, 34.7 mJ/m2, 12.3 mJ/m2, and 21.6 mJ/m2, respectively. The O/C ratios of UBF, ABF, SBF and, ASBF are 0.48, 0.53, 0.47, and 0.51. Due to the synergistic effect of alkali treatment and silane coupling agent modification on the surface chemical properties, the content of silicon elements on the surface of ASBF (4.15%) was higher than that of ASBF (2.38%). However, due to the destroying of alkali treatment on the microstructure of BF, the alkali treatment had no prominently synergetic effect with coupling agent modification on the mechanical properties of PLA/BF composites. Alkali treatment removed the small molecular compounds from BF, decreased its thermal stability, and increased the crystalline region and crystallinity of cellulose. Meanwhile, alkali treatment made BF fibrillated and increased its contactable active area with the coupling agents, but destructed the nature structure of BF. The silane coupling agent played a more important role than alkali treatment did in improving the interfacial compatibility of PLA/BF composites.

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Influence of Alkali Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Coir and Abaca Fibers

Materials ◽

10.3390/ma14102636 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (10) ◽

pp. 2636

Author(s):

Petr Valášek ◽

Miroslav Müller ◽

Vladimír Šleger ◽

Viktor Kolář ◽

Monika Hromasová ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Composite Materials ◽

Alkali Treatment ◽

Fiber Surface ◽

Cellulose Fibers ◽

Sem Analysis ◽

Experimental Program ◽

Time Interval ◽

The European Union ◽

Vegetable Fibers

Composite materials with natural fillers have been increasingly used as an alternative to synthetically produced materials. This trend is visible from a representation of polymeric composites with natural cellulose fibers in the automotive industry of the European Union. This trend is entirely logical, owing to a preference for renewable resources. The experimental program itself follows pronounced hypotheses and focuses on a description of the mechanical properties of untreated and alkali-treated natural vegetable fibers, coconut and abaca fibers. These fibers have great potential for use in composite materials. The results and discussion sections contribute to an introduction of an individual methodology for mechanical property assessment of cellulose fibers, and allows for a clear definition of an optimal process of alkalization dependent on the content of hemicellulose and lignin in vegetable fibers. The aim of this research was to investigate the influence of alkali treatment on the surface microstructure and tensile properties of coir and abaca fibers. These fibers were immersed into a 5% solution of NaOH at laboratory temperature for a time interval of 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h, rinsed and dried. The fiber surface microstructures before and after the alkali treatment were evaluated by SEM (scanning electron microscopy). SEM analysis showed that the alkali treatment in the NaOH solution led to a gradual connective material removal from the fiber surface. The effect of the alkali is evident from the visible changes on the surface of the fibers.

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