Mechanical Properties of Modified Natural Fiber/Poly(butylene succinate) Composites

Abstract

More than one billion tons of banana leaves are discarded per year. Banana fibers can be made from banana leaves. In the present study, banana fibers without being processed (BF), banana fibers with an alkali treatment (BF-A), banana fibers treated in an alkali aqueous solution with tension (BF-AT), and poly(butylene succinate)(PBS) were used to make BF/PBS composites, BF-A/PBS and BF-AT/PBS composites by applying a twin screw extruder, respectively. The specimens were prepared using an injection molding machine. The three-point flexural test and the charpy impact test were conducted. The results of three-point flexural test showed that when the weight fraction of banana fibers was increased in composites, both flexural strength and flexural modulus increased. Flexural strength and flexural modulus of composites containing BF were higher than in composites containing BF-A. Flexural strength and flexural modulus of composites containing BF were higher than in composites containing BF-AT. The results of charpy impact test showed that when the weight fraction of banana fibers was increased in composites, impact strength increased. Charpy impact strength of composites containing BF-A was higher than that of composites containing BF. Charpy impact strength of composites containing BF-AT was higher than that of composites containing BF-A. The reason was verified that the surface treatment on banana fibers enhanced the polymer wettability and increased the broken-out displacement of composites.