Abstract
Recently, there has been a revival of interest in Spanish broom (Spartium junceum L.) as a possible source of fibers to be used in biocomposite materials. The aim of this work was to evaluate the role of two selected strains of Clostridium felsineum (NCIMB 10690 and NCIMB 9539) in the retting of Spanish broom vermenes. Chemical composition and physical, mechanical, and morphological properties of fibers were investigated. The obtained results indicate that the process provides an ecofriendly method for Spanish broom retting and support the hypothesis that these fibers can be successfully used in composite materials.
Highlights
Since the last years, polymer composites reinforced with natural fibers are gaining ever more interest especially for industrial applications
There has been a revival of interest in Spanish broom (Spartium junceum L.) as a possible source of fibers to be used in biocomposite materials
The aim of this work was to evaluate the role of two selected strains of Clostridium felsineum (NCIMB 10690 and NCIMB 9539) in the retting of Spanish broom vermenes
Summary
Polymer composites reinforced with natural fibers are gaining ever more interest especially for industrial applications. Spanish broom (Spartium junceum L.), a member of the Leguminosae family, has been considered a potential interesting source of natural, sustainable, and renewable fiber for textile and technical applications [2, 3]. These fibers derived from the plant branchlets (known as vermenes) show extraordinary tensile resistance and flexibility and are able to produce materials in combination with biodegradable and plastic matrices [1, 4]. Spanish broom (Spartium junceum L.) is a perennial shrub growing in hot and dry climate throughout the Mediterranean area, where it naturally occurs in hilly soils, contributing to lower erosion and risks of nutrient leaching This plant is somewhat adapted to alkaline and salty soils. The diameter of ultimates varies from 5 to 10 μm while the diameter of the whole bundle is about 50 μm [4]
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