Bagasse Fiber Composites Research Articles

Development and evaluation of physical properties of PLA matrix composites reinforced with SCB/CF fiber

Researchers are increasingly focusing on natural, biodegradable materials because of environmental concerns. Although natural fibers give less strength than synthetic fibers, but they still contain some specific properties. In this paper, we studied the fire and water resistance, density, and swelling behavior of sugarcane bagasse fiber and chicken feather fiber composites using polylactic acid (E-3051D) as a matrix for different weighing fractions of fiber viz. 03%, 06%, 09%, (03 + 05)%, (06 + 05)%, (09 + 05)% and for 3 mm thickness. The 300 mm × 300 mm panels were made using the compression molding. According to ASTM standards, an investigation was carried out on several physical characteristics, including density, moisture content, water absorption, linear swelling, and a flammability test. It was observed that 3% sugarcane bagasse and 5% chicken feather fiber are better for various applications, as further increments will affect the mechanical properties. It is a combination of natural fibers and biodegradable matrix material, which makes it ecofriendly with various applications such as in automobile interiors, packaging materials, wall panels, window and door frames, and roof sheets, but limited use in bathroom and kitchen areas.

Efficiency of Costus Lateriflorus Bagasse Fiber and Cement Composite as Soil Stabilizer for Road Pavement

This study investigated the effect of costus lateriflorus bagasse fiber and cement composites on extensive soil compaction. Laterite and clay samples from Ubeta-Ula-Ubie Road at Ahoada West LGA in Rivers, Nigeria were prepared and analyzed for changes in maximum dry density (MDD), Optimum moisture content (OMC), consistency limits, and California bearing ratio (CBR) and unconfined compressive strength (UCS), maximum dry density (MDD), liquid limit (LL), and plasticity index (PI) of laterite and stabilized clay decreased with increasing proportion of bass fiber composites, while optimum moisture content (OMC), plastic limit (PL), and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) increases with the proportion of bagasse fiber. This study found that proper ratio of bagasse fiber content in soil stabilization will improve soil properties suitable for paving and road construction. Bagasse fiber has a relatively better performance in lateritic soil than in clay with the optimum ratio of cement composition of 0.75% and 7.5%.

Effect of fiber attrition, particle characteristics and interfacial adhesion on the properties of PP/sugarcane bagasse fiber composites

PP/sugarcane bagasse fiber composites were prepared by injection molding from two fractions of fibers with different particle characteristics. The mechanical properties of the composites were characterized by tensile and impact measurements, while local deformation processes by acoustic emission testing and microscopy. The determination of fiber dimensions after processing showed that considerable attrition takes place during melt processing in both the length and the diameter of the fibers. Interfacial adhesion can be improved considerably by coupling. The strength of adhesion was estimated quantitatively and adhesion was ten times stronger (1600 mJ/m2) in the presence of the coupling agent than without it (140 mJ/m2) leading to larger composite strength in the former case. Local deformation processes also change with the strength of adhesion, debonding dominates without the coupling agent, while fiber fracture takes place at good adhesion. Fiber fracture consumes energy that leads to an increase in impact resistance. The size of the fibers must be reduced in order to achieve better properties, but the application of coupling cannot be avoided even in that case.

Biobased PLA/sugarcane bagasse fiber composites: Effect of fiber characteristics and interfacial adhesion on properties

PLA/sugarcane bagasse fiber composites were prepared by injection molding from two fractions of fibers with different fiber characteristics, which were determined before and after processing. Interfacial adhesion was modified by a maleated PLA coupling agent. The mechanical properties of the composites were characterized by tensile and impact testing, while local deformation processes by acoustic emission testing and microscopy. The results showed that considerable attrition takes place during melt processing in both the length and diameter of the fibers. The originally different batches of short and long fibers have similar dimensions after processing. Interfacial adhesion between PLA and bagasse is inherently good, thus coupling does not improve properties. Shear yielding and fiber fracture consume sufficiently energy to increase the impact resistance. Sugarcane bagasse fibers considerably increase the stiffness of PLA, result in almost constant tensile strength and increase impact resistance yielding a material with reasonable combination of properties for structural applications.

Sugarcane Bagasse Reinforced Polyester Composites: Effects of Fiber Surface Treatment And Fiber Loading on The Tensile And Flexural Properties

The effect of fiber surface treatment and fiber loading on the tensile and flexural properties of untreated and treated fiber-based sugarcane bagasse reinforced polyester (SBRP) composites have been investigated. Sugarcane bagasse fibers were alkalized with 1, 3 and 5% concentration of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution combined with different fiber loading formulation 0, 20, 30 and 40 php, and hot-pressed to form natural fibers composite were prepared. The results indicated that the incorporation of bagasse fiber composites alkalized with 3% NaOH solution improved the tensile strength and modulus of reinforced composites meanwhile the untreated bagasse gave the lowest value. However, the elongation at break (Eb) indicated that treated bagasse fiber composites show a lower value compared to untreated composites. A similar trend also obtained for flexural strength and modulus.

Effect of removing sucrose and moisture in bagasse fibers on improvement of limit of processing temperature in bagasse-polypropylene composites

This study focused on the increase of processing temperature of sugarcane bagasse fiber and polypropylene composites by removing sucrose and moisture in bagasse fibers. The relationship between the number of washing times and remaining sucrose in bagasse fiber were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The analysis showed that original bagasse fibers, which had been obtained from a sugar cane mill, contained 4.0 wt% sucrose. To clarify the effect of the remaining sucrose and moisture on the limit of processing temperature in bagasse composites, the sucrose removed bagasse (40 wt%) or the original bagasse (40 wt%) was mixed with polypropylene (60 wt%), respectively. Then, the composite specimens were prepared with hot-press forming at various temperature. The observations of the composites appearances and their flexural tests were carried out. The results showed that the limit of processing temperature in the removing sucrose and moisture of bagasse composites was dramatically improved. The flexural properties in the sucrose and moisture removed bagasse composites did not decrease until 260 °C, while that in the original bagasse composites decreased at 240 °C.

Effect of removing sucrose and moisture in bagasse fibers on improvement of limit of processing temperature in bagasse-polypropylene composites

This study focused on the increase of processing temperature of sugarcane bagasse fiber and polypropylene composites by removing sucrose and moisture in bagasse fibers. The relationship between the number of washing times and remaining sucrose in bagasse fiber were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The analysis showed that original bagasse fibers, which had been obtained from a sugar cane mill, contained 4.0 wt% sucrose. To clarify the effect of the remaining sucrose and moisture on the limit of processing temperature in bagasse composites, the sucrose removed bagasse (40 wt%) or the original bagasse (40 wt%) was mixed with polypropylene (60 wt%), respectively. Then, the composite specimens were prepared with hot-press forming at various temperature. The observations of the composites appearances and their flexural tests were carried out. The results showed that the limit of processing temperature in the removing sucrose and moisture of bagasse composites was dramatically improved. The flexural properties in the sucrose and moisture removed bagasse composites did not decrease until 260 °C, while that in the original bagasse composites decreased at 240 °C.

Thermal Behavior of Polyester Composites Reinforced with Green Sugarcane Bagasse Fiber

Natural fibers such as those from sugarcane bagasse may be obtained as industrial waste products. These fibers have recently been investigated as low-cost reinforcements in composites for engineering applications, some of which may require exposure to temperatures above ambient. In the present work, fibers extracted from sugarcane bagasse were used at up to 30 vol.% as reinforcement in polyester-matrix composites. The thermal behavior of these composites was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) as well as dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). TGA/DTG results indicated similar limits of thermal stability at about 200°C for the neat polyester and the bagasse fiber composites. The thermal degradation peak at around 370°C was also similar, being attributed mainly to polyester. DSC analysis revealed that bagasse fiber incorporation caused only a minor change in the glass-transition temperature. On the contrary, DMA parameters revealed notable changes attributed to effect of the bagasse fibers on the viscous stiffness and damping capacity of the polyester.

Effects of Alkali Treatment and Fiber Content on the Properties of Bagasse Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composites

In this research work, natural fiber reinforced composites of bagasse fiber-epoxy resin were prepared. The chemical treatments using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at 1,3,5,7 wt% were carried out to modify the fiber properties. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to study the thermal stability of treated and untreated fibers. The effects of fiber treatment and fiber contents on mechanical properties of bagasse-epoxy composite were investigated. The characteristics of bagasse-epoxy resin composites exposed to high temperature as well as water absorption behavior were determined. The results from the TGA revealed that alkalization improved thermal stability of bagasse fiber. Treated bagasse fibers also had lower moisture content as compared to untreated fiber. The experimental results showed that the flexural properties of composites prepared from treated bagasse fibers were enhanced as compared to the untreated fiber composite. Thermal degradation study demonstrated that treated bagasse fiber composites experienced lower weight loss than untreated fiber composites. From water absorption study, it was observed that the treated bagasse fiber composites had lower water absorption values than those of untreated fiber based composites.

Tensile Strength Assessment of Injection-Molded High Yield Sugarcane Bagasse-Reinforced Polypropylene

Sugarcane bagasse was treated to obtain sawdust, in addition to mechanical, thermomechanical, and chemical-thermomechanical pulps. The obtained fibers were used to obtain reinforced polypropylene composites prepared by injection molding. Coupling agent contents ranging from 2 to 10% w/w were added to the composite to obtain the highest tensile strength. All the composites included 30% w/w of reinforcing fibers. The tensile strength of the different sugarcane bagasse fiber composites were tested and discussed. The results were compared with that of other natural fiber- or glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites. Pulp-based composites showed higher tensile strength than sawdust-based composites. A micromechanical analysis showed the relationship of some micromechanical properties to the orientation angle, critical length, the intrinsic tensile strength, and the interfacial shear strength. The pulps showed similar intrinsic tensile strengths and were higher than that of sawdust. The properties of the sugarcane bagasse composites compared well with other natural fiber-reinforced composites.

Sugarcane bagasse waste in composites for multilayered armor

The residue obtained from sugarcane juice extraction, in sugar and ethanol production, is known as bagasse. At the industrial mill, bagasse is either incinerated for steam and power generation or discarded as a waste. The incorporation of bagasse waste into polymeric composites for ballistic resistant materials was investigated in this study. Plates of epoxy composites reinforced with either raw bagasse or extracted bagasse fibers were characterized. The 30vol% bagasse composites were selected as a second layer, backing a front ceramic, in multilayered armors against 7.62mm ammunition. Ballistic performance of composites was compared to Kevlar™ plates used in commercial multilayered armor systems. Results of ballistic tests indicated that multilayered armors with Kevlar™ and bagasse fiber composites satisfied the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) norm, and displayed similar depths of indentation in a clay witness. By contrast, the armor with raw bagasse composite demonstrated worse performance, with nearly two times deeper indentations, some of which exceeded the NIJ limit. Economical analysis revealed that armor with bagasse fiber composite is nearly 180% less expensive than a corresponding armor with Kevlar™. Therefore, it is shown for the first time that composites reinforced with fibers extracted from sugarcane bagasse (a large scale worldwide generated waste) could replace Kevlar™ in multilayered armor systems making them cheaper and more sustainable.

Mechanical and thermal properties of poly(lactic acid)/sugarcane bagasse fiber green composites

Poly(lactic acid)/sugarcane bagasse fiber (PLA/SCBF) composites were prepared using melt compounding followed by compression molding. Epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) was selected as plasticizer for the PLA/SCBF composites. SCBF was alkali-treated and ground into powder form with the size of approximately 100 μm (hereafter designated as SCBFP). The properties of the PLA composites were assessed using impact tests, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). DMA results showed that the addition of SCBF increased the storage modulus of PLA and the effect is more pronounced for the one containing SCBFP. The impact strength of PLA/SCBF composites was improved significantly by the addition of ESO.

The effect of sugarcane bagasse fiber on the properties of recycled high density polyethylene

Recycled high density polyethylene/sugarcane bagasse fiber composites were prepared by melt mixing using a two-roll mill and compression molding. The effects of the sugarcane bagasse fibers content and the addition of compatibilizing agent maleated polyethylene on the composite properties were studied. The scanning electron micrographs of the compatibilized composites showed clear evidence of good interfacial adhesion between the fiber surface and the polymer matrix. The tensile tests revealed that the compatibilized composites provide better tensile strength and modules than the uncompatibilized composites. The elongation at break and the impact strength for all the composites decreased significantly compared to the recycled high density polyethylene. The composites had the same melting temperature and were thermally less stable than that of the recycled high density polyethylene. The presence of maleated polyethylene was found to decrease the water absorption and slightly increase the specific gravity of the composites.

Effect of Time-dependent Moisture Absorption on Surface Roughness of Bagasse and Oil Palm Fibers / Polypropylene Composites

The effect of time-dependent moisture absorption on the surface roughness in natural fiber/polypropylene composites after a hot-press molding was studied. The results showed that the moisture absorption in both bagasse and oil palm natural fiber composites correlated closely with time-dependent surface roughness in the composites. The surface roughness in all natural fiber composites increased with an increase of moisture absorption up to 50 d. The fibers absorbed moisture and swelled due to hydroxyl groups of celluloses in the natural fibers, which caused an increase in surface roughness. Time-dependent tests found that the surface roughness in long fiber composites was larger than that in short fiber composites due to inhomogeneous dispersion of long fibers in the vicinity of the surface of composites. The increase in surface roughness of oil palm composites was 55% that of the bagasse composites due to the lower temperature of thermal decomposition in oil palm fibers than in bagasse fibers. Thermal decomposition decreased the number of hydroxyl groups in fibers during heating and resulted in a decrease in moisture absorption in the palm fibers. Furthermore, the effect of the carbodiimide treatment on bagasse fibers was confirmed to reduce moisture absorption for both the fibers and the composites.

Preparation of thermoplastic starch/treated bagasse fiber composites

The objective was to improve the properties of thermoplastic starch (TPS) by using treated bagasse fiber as a reinforcing agent. Glycerol was used as a plasticizer. The morphology of the fractured surfaces, thermal decomposition temperatures and XRD pattern of the TPS and TPS/treated bagasse fiber composites were investigated using SEM, thermal gravimetric analysis, and XRD, respectively. After immersion in 1% NaOH, the smooth surface of bagasse fiber changed to a rough surface to cause the strong adhesion between the fiber and the TPS matrix was obtained. The treated bagasse fiber decreased the ability to absorb water and also improved the stability of the TPS during storage for a long period of time. The temperature at the maximum weight loss was increased up to 345°C when using the treated bagasse fiber 20 wt%. In addition, the treated bagasse fiber can prevented the retrogradation of starch.

Effects of Bagasse Fiber on Crystallization, Morphological and Mechanical Properties of Poly(<i>Lactic acid</i>)

Polylactic acid (PLA)/bagasse fiber (BF) composites were prepared via melt blending. The melting and crystallization behavior, morphology and mechanical properties of the composites were studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical tests. The results indicate that the crystallization ability of PLA is improved with the addition of BF. Silane treatment improves the adhesion between BF and the matrix. Compared with pure PLA, the flexural modulus increases, while the notched impact strength decreases for BF/PLA composites.

Effect of layering pattern on the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of jute/bagasse hybrid fiber‐reinforced epoxy novolac composites

AbstractIn this study, randomly oriented short jute/bagasse hybrid fiber‐reinforced epoxy novolac composites were prepared by keeping the relative volume ratio of jute and bagasse of 1:3 and the total fiber loading 0.40 volume fractions. The effect of jute fiber hybridization and different layering pattern on the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of jute/bagasse hybrid fiber‐reinforced epoxy novolac composites was investigated. The hybrid fiber‐reinforced composites exhibited fair water absorption and thickness swelling properties. To investigate the effect of layering pattern on thermomechanical behavior of hybrid composites, the storage modulus and loss factor were determined using dynamic mechanical analyzer from 30 to 200°C at a frequency of 1 Hz. The fracture surface morphology of the tensile samples of the hybrid composites was performed by using scanning electron microscopy. The morphological features of the composites were well corroborated with the mechanical properties. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated an increase in thermal stability of pure bagasse composites with the incorporation of jute fibers. The incorporation of hybrid fibers results better improvement in both thermal and dimensional stable compared with the pure bagasse fiber composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers

Mechanical properties of HIPS/sugarcane bagasse fiber composites after accelerated weathering

The effect of accelerated weathering on the visual appearance and on mechanical properties of high impact polystyrene (HIPS) as well as HIPS reinforced with mercerized and bleached sugarcane bagasse fibers composites are investigated. After accelerated weathering period of 900h, under UV-B radiation and moisture regular cycles, changes in mechanical properties are investigated by tensile tests. Materials fracture surfaces are investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The study showed that the exposure time was sufficient to change the visual appearance of HIPS as the composites. From this study, it was observed that composites reinforced with bleached fibers are less susceptible to accelerated weathering exposure than composites reinforced with mercerized fibers, which is explained by the higher amount of lignin present in mercerized fibers.

Studies of the processing and characterization of corn starch and its composites with banana and sugarcane fibers from Brazil

This paper presents results on the characterization of corn starch by X-ray powder diffraction and thermal analysis, as well as processing and characterization of starch–banana/sugarcane bagasse fiber composites. X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the starch sample belongs to the A-type, common in cereals. Thermal analysis showed good thermal stability for making composites, while fractographic studies of 70 wt.% starch and 30% glycerol matrix revealed cracks between smooth and rough surface and dimples in rough regions, suggesting the sample was ductile. The composites of this matrix with banana and bagasse fibers prepared by compression molding showed more homogeneous composites with crude glycerin and structural changes in both the fiber composites, while their morphology was dictated by the properties of the fibers rather than by those of the matrix. Improvements in tensile properties were observed in these composites over those of the matrix, which are explained based on fractographic observations.

Design and Optimization of Biopolyester Bagasse Fiber Composites

Bagasse fiber, a by-product of the sugar making process, maintains a coherent xylem structure and can offer mechanical reinforcement to composite materials. Biopolyester bagasse composites were prepared with biodegradable matrices polyhydroxylbutyrate (PHB) and its copolymer containing polyhydroxyvalerate (PHBV). Both biopolymers were reinforced with treated and untreated bagasse fibers, as well as fiber volume fractions involving two fiber lengths. Optimized properties were achieved with PHB-bagasse composite surpassing the PHB flexural strength by 50% and achieving higher strength and modulus than the standard thermoplastics. The bagasse fibers were cleaned with boiling water and acetone soxhlet extraction to avoid using adhesive chemicals and, therefore, comply with biosafety standards in the packaging industry. A significant improvement in the interfacial stress transfer between the fiber and the matrix was achieved with the fibers subjected to both washing and acetone treatment. While the crystallization of PHBV was shown to be controllable by processing conditions, it was concluded that no transcrystalline region was formed with this particular resin in any of the composites. Bagasse was shown to be an effective filler for PHBV; although the results varied somewhat due to the surface treatment of the bagasse fibers. On average, long fiber bagasse composites displayed flexural moduli 33% higher than those of PHBV. Overall, the results demonstrated the positive potential of bagasse to reinforce both biopolyester matrices.