Tucum Fiber from Amazon Astrocaryum vulgare Palm Tree: Novel Reinforcement for Polymer Composites.

Michelle Oliveira,Artur Pereira,Fábio Braga,Fabio Filho,Sergio Monteiro,Andressa Teixeira Souza,Luana Demosthenes,Fernanda Luz,André Figueiredo

doi:10.3390/polym12102259

Abstract

The replacement of synthetic fibers by natural fibers has, in recent decades, been the subject of intense research, particularly as reinforcement of composites. In this work, the lesser known tucum fiber, extracted from the leaves of the Amazon Astrocaryum vulgare palm tree, is investigated as a possible novel reinforcement of epoxy composites. The tucum fiber was characterized by pullout test for interfacial adhesion with epoxy matrix. The fiber presented a critical length of 6.30 mm, with interfacial shear strength of 2.73 MPa. Composites prepared with different volume fractions of 20 and 40% tucum fiber were characterized by tensile and Izod impact tests, as well as by ballistic impact energy absorption using .22 ammunition. A cost analysis compared the tucum fiber epoxy composites with other natural and synthetic fiber reinforced epoxy composites. The results showed that 40 vol% tucum fiber epoxy composites increased the tensile strength by 104% and the absorbed Izod impact energy by 157% in comparison to the plain epoxy, while the ballistic performance of the 20 vol% tucum fiber composites increased 150%. These results confirmed for the first time a reinforcement effect of the tucum fiber to polymer composites. Moreover, these composites exhibit superior cost effectiveness, taking into account a comparison made with others epoxy polymer composites.

Highlights

Since the beginning of the 21st century, official environmental regulations have motivated researchers all over the world to pursue solutions regarding energy saving, climate changes and pollution control
natural lignocellulosic fibers (NLFs) applications have been reported be applied as composite reinforcement a wide several range of engineering
For the first composites time, this study aimed towith perform an investigation on basic characteristics for the first time, study aimed to perform an investigation on basic characteristics ofTherefore, the tucum fiber in terms of its this density, pullout properties, microstructural aspects, and their use as of the tucum fibercomposites in terms ofsubjected its density, pullout properties, aspects,related and their polymer matrix to tensile tests as well asmicrostructural under impact conditions to use as polymer matrix composites subjected to tensile as well study as under impact conditions related

Summary

Introduction

Since the beginning of the 21st century, official environmental regulations have motivated researchers all over the world to pursue solutions regarding energy saving, climate changes and pollution control. An important example is the use of natural lignocellulosic fibers (NLFs) to replace synthetic fibers, which has become the object of intense research, especially when used as reinforcement for polymer matrix composites [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11] These NLFs, composed mainly of lignin and cellulose, have innumerous advantageous characteristics, such as low density and cost effectiveness, as well as biodegradability and worldwide abundance [12,13]. Including buildingaspect, construction [16,17], automotive industry compared [18] and ballistic armorfibers,

Objectives

Methods

Results