Abstract
A research project has been carried out at the National Technical University of Athens, Greece, to develop composite panels reinforced with cotton fibers. The primary aim of the project is to examine the mechanical properties of such panels for use in secondary structural members such as wall or door systems. The use of natural fibers such as cotton, flax or sisal fibers has the primary advantage of being eco-friendly, low cost and low weight compared to glass fibers on the expense of lower structural properties. This paper presents results from experimental work on composite plates made from polyester resin reinforced with cotton fibers, with special attention given to the effect of the fiber type on the structural properties of the plates. The results from this study showed that the structural performance of cotton fiber composites is satisfactory for structural parts with low requirements, such as wall panels or doors. The present results for cotton fiber composites are also compared to testing results from previous studies on composites with flax/sisal fibers.
Highlights
The interest and development of composites making use of natural fibers, aimed for structural applications, is growing from a long-term sustainable perspective
The use of natural fibers such as cotton, flax or sisal fibers has the primary advantage of being eco-friendly, low cost and low weight compared to glass fibers on the expense of lower structural properties
The results from this study showed that the structural performance of cotton fiber composites is satisfactory for structural parts with low requirements, such as wall panels or doors
Summary
The interest and development of composites making use of natural fibers, aimed for structural applications, is growing from a long-term sustainable perspective. A prime reason for selecting natural fibers for new products is that the net contribution to the greenhouse effect is minimal. Important is their low weight compared to glass fibers. Well known examples are panels based on flax/sisal and polymeric binders, thermoplastic or thermoset ones. A problem is that the polymeric binder is based on a non-renewable resource, namely crude oil, and that material recycling is difficult and costly and that energy recovery is not accepted as recycling at the time being
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