Processing and characterization of hemp nanofiber thermoset polymer composite

Abstract

The objective of this study was to develop a natural fiber-based composite with fibers extracted through a simple technique called a steam explosion. These environment friendly materials having deterioration rate greater than that of the other polymer-based materials commonly used in manufacturing industries. During this study, the cellulose nanofibers were extracted from a hemp fiber with the help of steam explosion technique. To confirm its suitably for bio-based composites structure implementations, the characteristic features and morphological properties were meticulously studied. The chemical characterization of Hemp fiber material exhibited a rise in cellulose content from 64% to 95%, due to bleach, alkali and acid therapies. Scientific evidence confirms that non-cellulosic compounds extraction such as lignin and hemicellulose that occur in acid, steam explosion and bleaching treatment, as observed in chemical properties during pre and post chemical fiber therapy. Scanning electron microscopy studies indicates that a decrease in the fiber-diameter aspect ratio and the percentage yield of nano-fiber removed by such a procedure is found to be very high compared with other conventional approaches during steam explosion with acid treatment. X-ray diffraction analysis exhibited the crystallinity of fiber contained crystalline cellulose was increased due to performed procedure. The composite developed with the reinforcement of the steam explosion process demonstrate increased mechanical properties such as hardness, tensile strength and toughness of the material used (Epoxy LY 556 and Hardener HY 951). The cellulose fiber-reinforced composites were processed after obtaining the cellulose fiber from the steam explosion process. Mechanical properties such as harness, tensile strength and toughness were significantly improved.