Composite biobased

Keywords Biobased, composites, MAPP, hybrid, flammability... 

Low cost biofibers such as jute, sisal, hemp, flax, ramie, banana, coir, etc., have received considerable attention in the recent years. These materials have successfully replaced the synthetic fibers glass in particular and other mineral fillers for fabrication of biobased composites used for engineering applications in various sectors such as aerospace, automobile, electronics, packaging, construction, etc. 

This chapter will focus on the application of these biofibers in the area of biobased composites. Also, a clear presentation of various examples of biobased composites, their properties and characterization studies are reported in the discussion. 

The surface energy of fibers is closely related to the hydrophilicity of the fiber [6]. Some investigations are concerned with methods to decrease the hydrophilicity. The modification of wood-cellulose fibers with stearic acid [10] hydrophobizes those fibers and improves their dispersion in polypropylene. As can be observed in jute reinforced polyester composites, treatment with polyvinylacetate increases the mechanical properties [10] and moisture repel-lence [60]. Several similar investigations on biobased composites based on thermoplastic and thermoset matrices have been reported by several authors [61-63]. Some of the major findings based on the authors own experimental investigations are discussed in the following sections. 

Biobased Composites of Sisal Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene... 

Table 9.3 Mechanical properties of Sisal/PP biobased composites [71].

Part II discusses bioplastics and biocomposites. One of the main environmental problems in industrial development is plastic waste and its disposal. An enormous part of scientific research has been directed towards environmentally benevolent bioplastics that can easily be degraded or bio-assimilated. High performance biobased composites (biocomposites) are very economical and open up a wide range of applications. 

Zhan, M. and Wool, R.P. (2010) Biobased composite resins design for electronic materieils. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 118(6), 3274-3283. 

K. Adekunle, D. Akesson and M. Skrifvars, Biobased composites prepared by compression molding with a novel thermoset resin from soybean oil and a natural-fiber reinforcement ,/App/ Polym Sci, 2010,116,1759-65. 

Biobased composites exhibit often unsatisfactory properties, such as, or resulting from (46) ... 

Rowell RM, Han JS, Rowell JS et al (2000) Characterization and factors effecting fibre properties in natural polymers and agro fibres based composites. In Frollini E, Leao AL, Mattoso LH (eds) Natural polymers and biobased composites, USP, Unesp, Embrapa, Brazil p115-135... 

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