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Dwarf Cavendish as a Source of Natural Fibers in Poly(propylene)‐Based Composites
Author(s) -
Faria Helena,
Cordeiro Nina,
Belgacem Mohamed Naceur,
Dufresne Alain
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.200500212
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , scanning electron microscope , compounding , lignin , filler (materials) , natural fiber , fiber , micrograph , raw material , crystallinity , ultimate tensile strength , sorption , composite number , botany , chemistry , organic chemistry , adsorption , biology
Summary: Composite materials were prepared by compounding and hot‐pressing PP or MAPP and lignocellulosic fibers extracted from the rachis of Musa acuminate Colla var. Dwarf Cavendish banana tree. The fibers were used as raw filler or after a chemical treatment expected to remove most of the extractible compounds. The resulting materials were characterized using SEM, DSC, DMA, tensile tests and water sorption experiments. All results show that the main aspect involved in the interfacial adhesion between the polar filler and the non‐polar matrix is the extraction of lignin and fatty substances. This results in higher values of the degree of crystallinity and crystallization temperature of the matrix, higher mechanical properties and lower water sensitivity.Scanning electron micrograph showing the cross section of the lignocellulosic filler obtained from rachis of banana tree: (a) raw, and (b) extracted fibers.