Enhanced Functional Properties of Natural Fiber-Reinforced Composites

Abstract:

This paper investigates functional properties of natural fiber reinforced composites, such as strengthening characteristics, biodegradation behavior and thermal insulating properties. These functionalities are mainly derived from inherent physical and chemical characteristics of natural plant fiber. High-strength green composites can be fabricated by using strong natural fibers. The biodegradation speed of green composites is faster than that of neat biodegradable resin used as matrix. Such enhanced biodegradation properties are attributed to the preferential biodegradation reaction at interfaces between natural fiber and biodegradable matrix polymer. In addition, better thermal insulation performance is easily attained by using natural plant fibers having a larger lumen, which is the hollow middle area of the natural fibers. Thus the thermal insulation properties of the natural fiber composites can be controlled not only by changing the thermal conductivity values of matrix polymer but also by changing the internal microstructure of the natural plant fiber, namely the size of lumen.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 845)
• Pages: 306-310
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.845.306
• Online since: December 2013
• Authors: Hitoshi Takagi*, Ke Liu, Antonio Norio Nakagaito, Zhi Mao Yang
• Keywords: Biodegradation, Green Composites, Natural Fiber, Tensile Strength, Thermal Insulation

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