Sisal Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastics

Sisal Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Polymer Composite... 

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Sisal Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic... 

Physico-Mechanical Properties of Chemically Modified Sisal Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Polymer Composite... 

The matrices used in sisal fiber-reinforced composites include thermoplastics (polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, PVC, etc.), thermosets (epoxy, polyester, and phenol-formaldehyde resin, etc.), rubber (namral rubber, styrene-buta-diene mbber, etc.) gypsum, and cement. The effects of fiber length, fiber orientation, processing methods, fiber volume fi-action and fiber surface treatment on the mechanical and physical properties of sisal fiber reinforced composites have been smdied. 

Considerable work has been done on the sisal fiber-reinforced epoxy composites. It is reported that the fractured cross sections of the sisal-epoxy composites, showed no epoxy resin in the fiber lumen. The total lumen area in the fiber cross-section was fotmd to be 15% and the total void content was about 17%. In sisal, total leaf mass contains only 2-4% sisal fibers other cells take care of the water distribution. Oksman et al. [9] studied the thermoplastic fiber composites and showed that lumen was filled with the polymer matrix. Fibers therefore have distribution channels between the single wood cells. It is possible that the absence of such channels in sisal, due to the different function of sisal fibers, is the reason for lack of polymer in the lumen. At several locations in the sisal fiber, a gap between the fiber and matrix can be observed. The gaps indicate weak fiber-matrix adhesion [9, 58, 59]. 

SFR-WFT Sisal fiber reinforced wheat flour thermoplastic composites... 

Sreekumar PA, Leblanc N, Saiter JM (2009) Characterization of bulk agro-green composites sisal fiber reinforced wheat flour thermoplastics. Polym Compos 31 939-945... 

The lignocellulosic materials mostly used as fillers in thermoplastic composites include wood flour, starch, rice husk and a wide variety of vegetable fibers available such as jute, sisal, flax, hemp, coir, banana, pineapple, among others. And whenever vegetable fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites with higher properties are needed, possible solutions include improved adhesion, better fiber orientation, and filler hybridization with synthetic fibers or mineral fillers. The latter solution is an intermediate alternative regarding environmental friendliness, cost, weight and performance compared to an all synthetic composite [12,26]. 

Girones et al. (2012) studied the mechanical properties of sisal and hemp fiber-reinforced thermoplastic cornstarch. The fiber increased the stiffness of the material. Results obtained in the tensile test displayed a continuous increase in both tensile modulus and ultimate strength that was proportional to the amount of reinforcement. Thus, Young s modulus for composites reinforced with a 20 % w/w of hemp... 

C. (2012) Morphological, mechanical properties and biodegradability of biocomposite thermoplastic starch and potycaprolactone reinforced with sisal fibers,/ Reinforc. Plast Compos., 31,573-581. 

Sisal fiber can be added as reinforcement in thermosets, thermoplastics, rubbers, cement, and gypsum and their composites are similarly classified as thermosets, thermoplastics, rubbers, and cement and gypsum according to their matrices. 

A number of reviews have been studied on the potential of natural fibers such as sisal, kenaf, hemp, flax, bamboo, and jute for the preparation of thermoplastic composites. In this work, however sisal fiber (SF) has been used as reinforcement due to easily availability and comparatively low cost. The xmtreated and treated SF-reinforced RPP composites have been prepared and investigated their thermal, mechanical, morphological, weathering and impact properties. An improved mechanical, thermal, and morphological property has been observed for chemical treated SF as well as clay loaded RPP. The analysis revealed that SF-reinforced RPP composites with enhanced properties can be successfully achieved which warrants to replace the synthetic fillers-based conventional thermoplastic composites. These SF-based RPP composites can be the material of choice in the field of aeronautic, automobiles, civil engineering, etc., due to its low cost, low density, non-toxicity, recyclability, acceptable strength, high specific properties, and minimum waste disposal problems. 

Reinforced Plastic n (RP) A plastic composition in which are embedded fibers that are much stronger and typically much stifier than the matrix resin. The reinforcements are usually fibers, rovings, fabrics, or mats, or mixed forms of glass, carbon, asbestos, metals, ceramics, paper, sisal, cotton, or nylon. Resins most commonly used are polyesters, phenolics, aminos, siH-cones, epoxies, and various thermoplastics. The term reinforced plastic includes some forms of Laminate and molded parts in which the reinforcements are not in layered form. When the resin is thermoplastic, the term reinforced thermoplastic is often used. Methods of forming reinforced-plastics articles from thermosetting resins are defined under the entries Ksted below. 

The demand for better fuel efficiency based on the strict governmental regulations on safety and emission has led to the wide application of composites and plastics in the automotive industry in the place of the traditionally used steels [32]. Thermoplastic materials reinforced with natural fibers have reported to have excellent mechanical properties, recycling properties, etc. [33-36]. Several natural and biorenewable fibers such as wheat, isora, soybean, kenaf, straw, jute, and sisal are used in the fiber/plastic composite industry, and the use of namral fibers as reinforcements for composite has attracted many industries [37, 38]. Compared to polymer resin, polymer biocomposites that are reinforced with natural fibers have many applications due to its ease of processing, comparatively lower cost, and excellent mechanical properties [39]. For more than a decade, European car manufacturers and suppliers have been using natural fiber-based composites with thermoplastic and thermoset matrices. These biocomposites and bionanocomposites... 

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