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Cover Image, Volume 136, Issue 37
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.48191
Subject(s) - kraft paper , pulp (tooth) , kraft process , composite material , pulp and paper industry , materials science , cover (algebra) , polymer science , cellulose fiber , hardwood , computer science , fiber , engineering , mechanical engineering , dentistry , medicine , ecology , biology
The cover by Heidi Peltola et al. presents unbleached hardwood kraft pulp fibers that are utilized as poly(lactic acid) reinforcement in wood fiber based biocomposites. Unbleached kraft pulp fibers provide significant improvement compared to bleached kraft pulp fibers in PLA composites, which is corresponded to enhanced fiber‐matrix adhesion due to residual surface lignin in unbleached fibers. In addition, the study indicates that bleaching contributes to higher refinability of bleached fibers, which results in reduced fiber length after melt processing, and thus, to lower reinforcement capability. From the compared compatibilizers, epoxidated linseed oil provides improved material performance for bleached fibers. DOI: 10.1002/app.47955