Performance of Unidirectional Biocomposite Developed with Piptadeniastrum Africanum Tannin Resin and Urena Lobata Fibers as Reinforcement

Abstract

The Piptadeniastrum Africanum bark tannin extract was characterized using MALDI TOF, ATR-FT MIR. It was used in the development of a resin with Vachellia nilotica extract as a biohardener. This tannin is consisting of Catechin, Quercetin, Chalcone, Gallocatechin, Epigallocatechin gallate, Epicatechin gallate. The gel time of the resin at natural pH (pH = 5.4) is 660 s and its MOE obtained by thermomechanical analysis is 3909 MPa. The tenacity of Urena lobata fibers were tested, woven into unidirectional mats (UD), and used as reinforcement in the development of biocomposite. The fibers tenacity at 20, 30 and 50 mm lengths are respectively 65.41, 41.04 and 33.86 cN·Tex−1 . The UD biocomposite obtained had very interesting mechanical properties. Its density, tensile MOE, ultimate strength, bending MOE and MOR are respectively 926 kg·m−3 , 6 GPa, 55 MPa, 9.3 GPa and 68.3 MPa. This biocomposite can be used in a building exterior structure.