Enhancing the Mechanical Performance of Bleached Hemp Fibers Reinforced Polyamide 6 Composites: A Competitive Alternative to Commodity Composites.

Francisco J Alonso-Montemayor,F Xavier Espinach,Quim Tarrés,Helena Oliver-Ortega,Rosa Idalia Narro-Céspedes,Marc Delgado-Aguilar,Adali O Castañeda-Facio

doi:10.3390/polym12051041

Francisco J Alonso-Montemayor, F Xavier Espinach + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12051041

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Journal: Polymers	Publication Date: May 2, 2020
Citations: 20	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Autonomous University of Coahuila, University of Girona

Abstract

Automotive and industrial design companies have profusely used commodity materials like glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene. These materials show advantageous ratios between cost and mechanical properties, but poor environmental yields. Natural fibers have been tested as replacements of glass fibers, obtaining noticeable tensile strengths, but being unable to reach the strength of glass fiber-reinforced composites. In this paper, polyamide 6 is proposed as a matrix for cellulosic fiber-based composites. A variety of fibers were tensile tested, in order to evaluate the creation of a strong interphase. The results show that, with a bleached hardwood fiber-reinforced polyamide 6 composite, it is possible to obtain tensile strengths higher than glass-fiber-reinforced polyolefin. The obtained composites show the existence of a strong interphase, allowing us to take advantage of the strengthening capabilities of such cellulosic reinforcements. These materials show advantageous mechanical properties, while being recyclable and partially renewable.

Highlights

Short fiber-reinforced polymer composites are formulated and designed with the intention of obtaining new materials with enhanced properties with respect to the matrix [1]
The incorporation of 20 wt % of reinforcement enhanced the tensile strength of polyamide 6 (PA6) by 4.59%, 5.02%, 10.76%, 27.40% and 23.82% when stone groundwood pulp (SGW), untreated hemp filaments (UHF), bleached kraft hardwood fibers (BKHF), bleached hemp fibers (BHF) and bleached flax fibers (BFF) were used as the reinforcement, respectively
Polyamide 6 was reinforced with a series of cellulosic fibers

Summary

Introduction

Short fiber-reinforced polymer composites are formulated and designed with the intention of obtaining new materials with enhanced properties with respect to the matrix [1]. These properties can vary, but usually are related with the mechanical, economical or environmental performance of the composites [2]. Materials with weak interphases, even if they achieve an economic advantage, will decrease the strength of the matrix. In order to obtain economic and mechanical advantages, the reinforcement must be cheap and must ensure the creation of a strong interphase with the matrix. To increase the environmental advantages, the reinforcement must be renewable, locally available and recyclable or biodegradable [4]

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Conclusion