Miscanthus Fibers Research Articles

Enhancing Insight into Photochemical Weathering of Flax and Miscanthus: Exploring Diverse Chemical Compositions and Composite Materials.

The accelerated weathering of flax and miscanthus fibers possessing distinct chemical compositions was investigated. The chosen fibers included raw, extractive-free (EF) and delignified samples (x3), alone and used as fillers in a stabilized polypropylene blue matrix (PP). Modifications in both color and the chemical composition of the fibers throughout the weathering process under ultraviolet (UV) light were meticulously tracked and analyzed by spectrophotometry and attenuated total reflectance with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The inherent nature and composition of the selected fibers led to varied color-change tendencies. Raw and EF flax fibers exhibited lightening effects, while raw and EF miscanthus fibers demonstrated darkening effects. Extractives exhibited negligible influence on the color alteration of both flax and miscanthus fibers. This disparity between the fibers correlates with their respective lignin content and type, and the significant formation of carbonyl (C=O) groups in miscanthus. Better stability was noted for delignified flax fibers. A comparative study was achieved by weathering the PP matrix containing these various fibers. Contrary to the weathering observations on individual fibers, it was noted that composites containing raw and EF flax fibers exhibited significant color degradation. The other fiber-containing formulations showed enhanced color stability when compared to the pure PP matrix. The study highlights that the UV stability of composites depends on their thermal history. As confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), fiber degradation during extrusion may affect UV stability, a factor that is not apparent when fibers alone are subjected to UV aging.

Surface modification of miscanthus fiber with hydrophobic silica aerogel for high performance bio-lightweight concrete

Bio-fiber reinforced cementitious material is now attracted widespread attention thanks to its low carbon footprint and its advantages in energy conservation in buildings. However, the main concerns of using large volume of bio-fibers in concrete is its high water absorption and the leaching of organic matter that is incompatible with cement. This study investigates a surface modification method of a bio-fiber (miscanthus) by using hydrophobic silica aerogel and further evaluates its mechanical and insulating performance in lightweight concrete and increase its compatibility with cement. X-ray diffraction, thermal gravimetry and calorimeter test were carried out to investigate the effect of hydrophobic miscanthus fibers on the microstructure of cement matrix. The results show silica aerogel modified miscanthus fiber enhances both the compressive and flexural strength, meanwhile significantly improving the insulating performance of concrete. The use of superhydrophobic aerogel particles reduces the sugar leached from miscanthus and the hydration heat peak is only slightly delayed with the incorporation of aerogel coated miscanthus fibers. The results of this study shed light on surface modifications of bio-fibers for applications in high performance construction materials.

Mechanical and thermal properties of cement mortar composites incorporating micronized miscanthus fibers

This study examines the impact of incorporating micronized miscanthus fibers into a cement mortar, focusing on the mechanical and thermal effects. Initially, an experimental procedure was devised to create mortar mixtures with varying amounts of miscanthus fibers, with a maximum dosage of 7 wt%. This involved saturating the fibers with water beforehand to maintain the workability of the fresh mixes. The resulting hardened bio-based mortars were then evaluated after 28 days in terms of their microstructure, mechanical strength (assessed through flexural and compression tests), and thermophysical properties (measured using the Hot-Disk technique to determine thermal conductivity/diffusivity and volumetric heat capacity). The experimental findings revealed significant enhancements (up to 87%) in the thermal resistance of the mortars due to the addition of fibers. However, this improvement was accompanied by a considerable reduction in mechanical strength. As a result, while these bio-based mortars are unsuitable for structural applications, they still possess adequate mechanical properties for handling and are appropriate for insulation purposes in construction.

Impact of miscanthus lignin and arabinoxylan on Portland cement

Miscanthus biomass can be used to produce lightweight concrete. However, cell wall polymers leached in the alkaline cementitious medium can disturb cement setting. This is the case for grass lignin and grass arabinoxylan due to their specific alkali solubility. The main objective of this paper was to study the impact of lignin and of arabinoxylan from miscanthus biomass on the hydration of Portland cement and by electrical conductivity. To this end, dioxan lignin (DL) and arabinoxylan (AX) were extracted from miscanthus by methods preserving the main structural specificities of the native polymers. These DL and AX fractions were added to Portland cement (1–5% w/w in cement) and their impact on the electrical conductivity of cement/water mixtures was time-monitored. The novelty of this study lies in using polymers structurally similar to those of miscanthus fibers rather than commercially available ones, such as kraft lignin (KL). The addition of DL or of KL to cement/water mixture differently affected the electrical conductivity, which is most likely assignable to the severe structural degradation of KL during kraft process. The conductivity curves suggested that cement hydration was substantially delayed when DL % in cement was 3% or more while lower values had no impact. The results support the hypothesis that the access of water to cement grains was impeded by the adsorption of ionized lignin entities at their surface. When co-added to the cement (1.6 wt% each), the DL and AX fraction delayed cement hydration more substantially than when the same amounts were separately added. This unexpected synergy suggests that the miscanthus lignin and arabinoxylan polymers form lignin-carbohydrate complexes efficiently adsorbed on cement grains.

Minimizing the Global Warming Potential with Geopolymer-Based Insulation Material with Miscanthus Fiber.

Approximately 45% of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by the construction and use of buildings. Thermal insulation of buildings in the current context of climate change is a well-known strategy to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. The development of renewable insulation material can overcome the drawbacks of widely used insulation systems based on polystyrene or mineral wool. This study analyzes the sustainability and thermal conductivity of new insulation materials made of Miscanthus x giganteus fibers, foaming agents, and alkali-activated fly ash binder. Life cycle assessments (LCA) are necessary to perform benchmarking of environmental impacts of new formulations of geopolymer-based insulation materials. The global warming potential (GWP) of the product is primarily determined by the main binder component sodium silicate. Sodium silicate’s CO2 emissions depend on local production, transportation, and energy consumption. The results, which have been published during recent years, vary in a wide range from 0.3 kg to 3.3 kg CO2-eq. kg−1. The overall GWP of the insulation system based on Miscanthus fibers, with properties according to current thermal insulation regulations, reaches up to 95% savings of CO2 emissions compared to conventional systems. Carbon neutrality can be achieved through formulations containing raw materials with carbon dioxide emissions and renewable materials with negative GWP, thus balancing CO2 emissions.

Study of Mechanical Properties of PHBHV/Miscanthus Green Composites Using Combined Experimental and Micromechanical Approaches.

In recent years the interest in the realization of green wood plastic composites (GWPC) materials has increased due to the necessity of reducing the proliferation of synthetic plastics. In this work, we study a specific class of GWPCs from its synthesis to the characterization of its mechanical properties. These properties are related to the underlying microstructure using both experimental and modeling approaches. Different contents of Miscanthus giganteus fibers, at 5, 10, 20, 30 weight percent’s, were thus combined to a microbial matrix, namely poly (3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-poly(3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBHV). The samples were manufactured by extrusion and injection molding processing. The obtained samples were then characterized by cyclic-tensile tests, pycnometer testing, differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and microscopy. The possible effect of the fabrication process on the fibers size is also checked. In parallel, the measured properties of the biocomposite were also estimated using a Mori–Tanaka approach to derive the effective behavior of the composite. As expected, the addition of reinforcement to the polymer matrix results in composites with higher Young moduli on the one hand, and lower failure strains and tensile strengths on the other hand (tensile modulus was increased by 100% and tensile strength decreased by 23% when reinforced with 30 wt % of Miscanthus fibers).

Water-Induced Breaking of Interfacial Cohesiveness in a Poly(lactic acid)/Miscanthus Fibers Biocomposite.

The impact of the immersion in water on the morphology and the thermomechanical properties of a biocomposite made of a matrix of poly (lactic acid) (PLA) modified with an ethylene acrylate toughening agent, and reinforced with miscanthus fibers, has been investigated. Whereas no evidence of hydrolytic degradation has been found, the mechanical properties of the biocomposite have been weakened by the immersion. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) pictures reveal that the water-induced degradation is mainly driven by the cracking of the fiber/matrix interface, suggesting that the cohesiveness is a preponderant factor to consider for the control of the biocomposite decomposition in aqueous environments. Interestingly, it is observed that the loss of mechanical properties is aggravated when the stereoregularity of PLA is the highest, and when increasing the degree of crystallinity. To investigate the influence of the annealing on the matrix behavior, crystallization at various temperatures has been performed on tensile bars of PLA made by additive manufacturing with an incomplete filling to enhance the contact area between water and polymer. While a clear fragilization occurs in the material crystallized at high temperature, PLA crystallized at low temperature better maintains its properties and even shows high elongation at break likely due to the low size of the spherulites in these annealing conditions. These results show that the tailoring of the mesoscale organization in biopolymers and biocomposites can help control their property evolution and possibly their degradation in water.

Regression and ANFIS-based models for predicting of surface roughness and thrust force during drilling of biocomposites

Biocomposites are increasingly being applied in the automotive industry. For assembly purpose, drilling process is often performed in these biocomposites parts to produce holes. The machining behavior of biocomposites is affected by the matrix, the reinforcements (nature and size), by the cutting conditions and the mechanical properties of biocomposites. Some of the newly developed biocomposites are made of a polypropylene/polyolefin blend matrix, which has low thermal conductivity and low softening temperature. Therefore, the selection of cutting parameters should be done with care to avoid thermal-induced damages occurred during drilling biocomposites. Also, due to the heterogeneous and anisotropic properties of biocomposites, it is essential to develop models for predicting the effects of these factors on the machining process performance indicators. In this research work, a full factorial design is used to investigate the effects of machining parameters (feed rate, drill diameter, spindle speed, and reinforcement type) on machinability indicators during the drilling of the three new biocomposites: Polypropylene/Polyolefin matrix reinforced with biocarbon particles and/or miscanthus fibers. The regression and ANFIS-based models are established for predicting thrust force (Ft) and surface roughness (Ra) based on empirical data. The results obtained show that, for each tested biocomposite, the proposed ANFIS models have better predictive accuracy for thrust force and surface roughness than the regression-based models. Furthermore, the drilling parameters and reinforcements used in these biocomposites considerably affect their machinability.

Assessment of the papermaking potential of processed Miscanthus × giganteus stalks using alkaline pre-treatment and hydrodynamic cavitation for delignification

One way of satisfying increased market demand and simultaneously achieving a reduced environmental load in the industrial paper production is the use of fibrous agricultural residues. The aims of this study were i) to investigate the effect of alkaline – hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) pre-treatments on the delignification of Miscanthus × giganteus stalks (MGS) and ii) establishing the suitability of MGS as feedstock and their exploitation in pulp and paper manufacturing. It was demonstrated that the proposed treatment is an efficient delignification method for the non-wood fiber sources, such as miscanthus. A significant outcome of this work was the observation that HC treatment preserved the fibres lengths and surface quality of raw MGS, but at the same time increased the amount of kinked and curled fibers present in cavitated miscanthus fibers. The average miscanthus fiber length was found to be relatively short at 0.45 (±0.28) mm, while the slenderness ratio, the flexibility coefficient and Runkel ratio values were calculated to be 28.13, 38.16 and 1.62, respectively. The estimated physical properties of MGS pulp hand-sheets were 24.88 (±3.09) N m g−1 as the tensile index, 0.92 (±0.06) kPa m2 g−1 as the burst index and 4.0 (±0.37) mN m2 g−1 as the tear index. Overall the current work demonstrated effective use of hydrodynamic cavitation for improving the processing in pulp and paper manufacturing.

Bio-based ultra-lightweight concrete applying miscanthus fibers: Acoustic absorption and thermal insulation

Acoustic and thermal comfort play an important role in the building environment. This study investigates ultra-lightweight concrete incorporating Miscanthus fibers as lightweight aggregates to improve sound absorption and thermal insulation properties. Miscanthus fibers (MF) is a kind of sound absorption biomass that can dissipate sound noise thanks to its porous and flexible inner structures and fibrous shape. However, its acoustic absorption performance in cement-based materials is rarely investigated. Therefore, the acoustic absorption and thermal insulation of ultra-lightweight Miscanthus concrete (ULMC) is investigated using two different kinds of Miscanthus fibers. Meanwhile other mechanical properties were characterized, including bulk density and flexural strength. Results showed ULMC with 30% 2–4 mm MF obtained an ultra-low density (554 kg/m3), thermal conductivity (0.09 W/(m·K)) and high acoustic absorption coefficient (0.9) at low frequencies. It is found that the acoustic performance of ULMC can be improved by optimizing the dosage and shape of Miscanthus fibers. The developed green and sustainable bio-based ULMC possesses an excellent acoustic absorption and thermal insulation and is very suitable to use as indoor ceiling boards and in non-structural walls to make indoor living environment comfortable and energy-saving.

Effects of reinforcements and cutting parameters on machinability of polypropylene-based biocomposite reinforced with biocarbon particles and chopped miscanthus fibers

New biocomposites are increasingly being developed and applied in engineering and manufacturing. The reinforcement type used in biocomposite is one of the major factors that greatly affect the machinability of biocomposite. This study investigated the drilling of two biocomposites (polypropylene-based biocomposite reinforced with biocarbon M1 (30 wt% biocarbon + PP/POE/MAPP) and chopped miscanthus fibers M2 (30 wt% miscanthus + PP/POE/MAPP)). A full factorial design was used for this study. The effects of drilling parameters and reinforcement types on surface roughness, thrust force, specific cutting energy, fine particles, and ultrafine particle generation were measured and analyzed. The results show that the thrust force and specific cutting energy during drilling of biocomposite M1 is bigger than that of biocomposite M2 under the same cutting conditions. However, the surface roughness and fine dust emitted when drilling biocomposite M1 are smaller than those from biocomposite M2, respectively. The reinforcement types of biocomposite, cutting parameters and drill diameter greatly affected fine particles emission. Meanwhile, the cutting conditions are not statistically significant for ultrafine particle generation during dry drilling of both biocomposites.

Influence of lignocellulosic substrate and phosphorus flame retardant type on grafting yield and flame retardancy

Various phosphorus flame retardants (FR) have been grafted on lignin-rich miscanthus fibers and lignin-poor flax fibers according to two methods, phosphonic acids condensation in mild conditions and radiation grafting. Phosphorus content and its location on fibers were evaluated. Even if phosphorus FR diffused into the fibers bulk in all cases, chemical modification based on phosphonic acids condensation with hydroxyls of miscanthus fibers appears more suitable for high lignin content fibers. Phosphorus content in miscanthus fibers reached 1.4 wt% using hexane-1,6-diylbisphosphonic acid whereas it reached a lower content (0.3 wt%) for flax fibers. Radiation grafting is suitable for both fibers with limited effect depending on fiber nature. Flame retardancy at microscale was examined using PCFC and TGA. Thermal properties and flame retardancy have been shown to be correlated to the phosphorus content but also to fibers composition and to the thermal stability of the flame retardant. Vinyl phosphonic acid was found to be more efficient as char promoter for flax compared to miscanthus.

Experimental Investigation on Machinability of Polypropylene Reinforced with Miscanthus Fibers and Biochar.

The machinability of composite materials depends on reinforcements, matrix properties, cutting parameters, and on the cutting tool used (material, coating, and geometry). For new composites, experimental studies must be performed in order to understand their machinability, and thereby help manufacturers establishing appropriate cutting data. In this study, investigations are conducted to analyze the effects of cutting parameters and drill bit diameter on the thrust force, surface roughness, specific cutting energy, and dust emission during dry drilling of a new hybrid biocomposite consisting of polypropylene reinforced with miscanthus fibers and biochar. A full factorial design was used for the experimental design. It was found that the feed rate, the spindle speed, and the drill bit diameter have significant effects on the thrust force, the surface roughness, and the specific cutting energy. The effects of the machining parameters and the drill bit diameter on ultrafine particles emitted were not statistically significant, while the feed rate and drill bit diameter had significant effects on fine particle emission.

A flame retarded chitosan binder for insulating miscanthus/recycled textile fibers reinforced biocomposites

ABSTRACTThe main objective of this study is devoted to the development of new insulating and ignifuged miscanthus fibers (Mf)/recycled textile fibers (RTf) reinforced biocomposites (BCs) using chitosan as polysaccharide‐based binder and aluminum trihydroxide (ATH) fillers while focusing on the fire behavior. To achieve this goal, a preliminary study was carried out on flame retarded chitosan‐based films with various ATH‐filler ratios (20, 33, 50, and 60 wt %). ATG and pyrolysis‐combustion flow calorimeter analysis showed significant improvement of chitosan thermal behavior with the addition of 33 wt % and above of ATH. Mechanical properties of films were, however, degraded. Thereafter, different ratios of miscanthus/RTf reinforced BCs (fibers content up to 89.5–90 wt %) were elaborated through thermocompression process using neat chitosan and chitosan/ATH (67/33 wt %) as a binder. Mechanical, thermal, and fire behavior were evaluated. Higher mechanical properties were found for hybrid materials containing the association of both RTf and Mf in comparison to those containing only RTf or Mf. Fireproof BCs (E rating: according to the NF EN ISO 11925‐2), with thermal conductivity values between 0.07 and 0.09 W m−1 K−1 and density range between 270 and 299 kg m−3 were successfully elaborated. The results of this study show a promising use of the chitosan/ATH system as flame retardant for biobased insulating building materials. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47306.

Cellulose nanocrystals from Miscanthus fibers: insights into rheological, physico-chemical properties and polymer reinforcing ability

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were extracted from Miscanthus (MST) fibers using a sulfuric acid hydrolysis process. The results showed that the obtained CNC exhibit a needle-like shape with an average aspect ratio of 37. The surface charge density was measured at 1.99 sulfate groups per 100 anhydroglucose units while the zeta potential value was found to be -38 mV. The crystallinity of the extracted CNC was 76%, and the cellulose I type crystal structure was predominant. Due to its high importance for potential application of CNC in aqueous systems, the rheological behavior of CNC aqueous suspensions at various CNC concentrations was determined. The CNC suspensions showed gel-like behavior at very low CNC concentrations ranging from 0.1 wt% up to 0.6 wt%, as confirmed by the steady shear viscosity measurements and the oscillatory dynamic tests. The dynamic rheological parameters of CNC suspensions were slightly affected by the temperature profile. At high temperature up to 80 °C a stronger CNC network is formed by increasing the relative motion resistance of CNC macromolecules and the entanglement. In order to identify the reinforcing ability of the newly extracted CNC, starch-based nanocomposite films were produced with various CNC contents (1, 3, 5 and 8 wt%) and their tensile properties were investigated. It was found that the addition 8 wt% CNC within starch matrix increased the Young’s modulus by 150% and the tensile strength by 118%, resulting in mechanically strong and eco-friendly nanocomposite materials.

Plant fibers for renewable growing media: Potential of defibration, acidification or inoculation with biocontrol fungi to reduce the N drawdown and plant pathogens

Plant fibers allow for the partial replacement of peat in growing media and have potential to carry and sustain biocontrol organisms. However, they may also carry plant pathogens and they may vary in their degree of biodegradability and their interaction with N, and in this way thus affect the quality of growing media.We tested 3 types of plant fibers (flax, miscanthus and reed) for replacement of peat in growing media. In order to (1) kill plant pathogens present on the plant fibers, (2) reduce the N fixation risk of the fibers and (3) provide fibers serving as carrier of biocontrol fungi, various defibration techniques were tested, including extrusion, retruding, disc refining and steam explosion.Flax shives obtained from various sources were naturally colonized by viable microsclerotia of the plant pathogen Verticillium dahliae. When sufficiently high temperatures were reached during defibration, this technique killed the plant pathogen on the shives.Untreated flax shives, miscanthus or reed straw were characterized by high N immobilization and thus reduce N availability for plants if used as growing medium. We found a clear positive correlation between the risk for N immobilization versus pH, the hemicellulose content and water-extractable C concentration of the fiber.Unlike peat, defibrated pure miscanthus, reed straw and flax shives were easily colonized by fungal biocontrol strains. Inoculation of extruded miscanthus fibers with biocontrol fungi did not increase nor decrease the N immobilization. Reducing the pH of the fibers was effective in reducing the microbial activity and the N fixation.Defibrated plant fibers have potential for peat replacement and as carrier for biocontrol fungi. Peat replacement is important in relation to the circular economy, climate change mitigation (prevention of carbon loss and greenhouse gas emissions) and the conservation of fragile ecosystems. Successful application of biocontrol fungi may reduce the need for using chemical crop protection agents in horticulture.

Thermally Stable Pyrolytic Biocarbon as an Effective and Sustainable Reinforcing Filler for Polyamide Bio-composites Fabrication

Natural fibers are limited in their use as reinforcement to commodity polymers. They cannot be used to reinforce engineering polymers due to their low thermal stability at high processing temperatures. This study presents an approach to successfully reinforce polyamides using a derivative of natural fibers as reinforcement without the effects of thermal degradation during melt processing. Biocarbon from miscanthus fibers was used to reinforce polyamide 6 up to 40 wt%. At 40 wt% filler content, the tensile and flexural strengths increased by 19.6 and 47% respectively in comparison to the neat polyamide. The moduli were also increased by 31.5 and 63.7% respectively. A maximum increase in impact strength of 43.7% was achieved at 20 wt% biocarbon loading. The morphology of the tensile fractured samples showed stretched polyamide ligaments attached to the biocarbon particles, indicating the presence of interaction between filler and matrix. Interestingly, more bonded interfaces were observed between the polyamide and biocarbon particles with increasing biocarbon content possibly stemming from increased biocarbon surfaces with functional groups. These composites show great potential to substitute in part or whole, some particulate filled polyamides currently used in the automotive industry.

Biodegradable biocomposites from poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) and miscanthus: Preparation, compatibilization, and performance evaluation

ABSTRACTMiscanthus fibers reinforced biodegradable poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) matrix‐based biocomposites were produced by melt processing. The performances of the produced PBAT/miscanthus composites were evaluated by means of mechanical, thermal, and morphological analysis. Compared to neat PBAT, the flexural strength, flexural modulus, storage modulus, and tensile modulus were increased after the addition of miscanthus fibers into the PBAT matrix. These improvements were attributed to the strong reinforcing effect of miscanthus fibers. The polarity difference between the PBAT matrix and the miscanthus fibers leads to weak interaction between the phases in the resulting composites. This weak interaction was evidenced in the impact strength and tensile strength of the uncompatibilized PBAT composites. Therefore, maleic anhydride (MAH)‐grafted PBAT was prepared as compatibilizer by melt free radical grafting reaction. The MAH grafting on the PBAT was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The interfacial bonding between the miscanthus fibers and PBAT was improved with the addition of 5 wt % of MAH‐grafted PBAT (MAH‐g‐PBAT) compatibilizer. The improved interaction between the PBAT and the miscanthus fiber was corroborated with mechanical and morphological properties. The compatibilized PBAT composite with 40 wt % miscanthus fibers exhibited an average heat deflection temperature of 81 °C, notched Izod impact strength of 184 J/m, tensile strength of 19.4 MPa, and flexural strength of 22 MPa. From the scanning electron microscopy analysis, better interaction between the components can be observed in the compatibilized composites, which contribute to enhanced mechanical properties. Overall, the addition of miscanthus fibers into a PBAT matrix showed a significant benefit in terms of economic competitiveness and functional performances. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45448.

Impact of interfacial adhesion on the microstructure and property variations of biocarbons reinforced nylon 6 biocomposites

This work systematically demonstrates the effect of biocarbon surface chemistry on the properties of nylon-biocarbon biocomposites and that they can be designed for specific applications by engineering the biocarbon surface through pyrolysis. Miscanthus fibers pyrolyzed at ∼500°C (B1) and ∼900°C (B2) were used to reinforce nylon 6 at 20 wt.% loading. The composite containing B1 (NB1) exhibited increased tensile and flexural strengths by 19.5% and 31% respectively while the composite containing B2 (NB2) exhibited significantly lower aforementioned properties than those of NB1. The impact strength of NB2 was unchanged while that of NB1 was diminished by 32%. The property variations of the composites were attributed to the difference in interfacial adhesion between the biocarbons and nylon due to the biocarbons’ different surface functionalities. Complex and shear-viscosities showed greater restriction of the nylon chains in NB1 stemming from stronger interaction between B1 and nylon.

Reactive compatibilization and performance evaluation of miscanthus biofiber reinforced poly(hydroxybutyrate‐co‐hydroxyvalerate) biocomposites

ABSTRACTDicumyl peroxide (DCP) initiated reactive compatibilization of poly(hydroxybutyrate‐co‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV)/miscanthus fibers (70/30 wt %) based biocomposite was prepared in a twin screw extruder followed by injection molding. In the presence of DCP, both the flexural and the tensile strength of the PHBV/miscanthus composites were appreciably higher compared with PHBV/miscanthus composite without DCP as well as neat PHBV. The maximum tensile strength (29 MPa) and flexural strength (51 MPa) were observed in the PHBV/miscanthus composite with 0.7 phr DCP. The enhanced flexural and tensile strength of the PHBV/miscanthus/DCP composites are attributed to the improved interfacial adhesion by free radical initiator. Unlike flexural and tensile strength, the modulus of the PHBV/miscanthus/DCP composites was found to slightly lower than the PHBV/miscanthus composite. The modulus difference in the PHBV/miscanthus composite with and without DCP has good agreement with the observed crystallinity. However, the flexural and tensile modulus of all the prepared biocomposites was at least two fold higher than the neat PHBV. The storage modulus value of the PHBV/miscanthus and PHBV/miscanthus/DCP biocomposites follows similar trend like tensile and flexural modulus. The melting temperature and crystallization temperature of PHBV/DCP and PHBV/miscanthus/DCP samples were considerably lower compared with the neat PHBV and PHBV/miscanthus composites. The surface morphology revealed that the PHBV/miscanthus/DCP composites have good interface with less fiber pull‐outs compared with the corresponding counterpart without DCP. This suggests that the compatibility between the matrix and the fibers is enhanced after the addition of peroxide initiator. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 44860.