Utilization of Natural Fibers in Plastic Composites : Problems and Opportunities

Utilization of Natural Fibers in Plastic Composites: Problems and Opportunities Roger M. Rowell, Anand R, Sanadi, Daniel F. Caulfield and Rodney E. Jacobson Forest Products Laboratory, ESDA, One Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, WI 53705 Department of Forestry, 1630 Linden Drive, University of Wisconsin, WI 53706 recycled. Results suggest that agro-based fibers are a viable alternative to inorganic/material based reinforcing fibers in commodity fiber-thermoplastic composite materials as long as the right processing conditions are used and for applications where higher water absorption may be so critical. These renewable fibers hav low densities and high specific properties and their non-abrasive nature permits a high volume of filling in the composite. Kenaf fivers, for example, have excellent specific properties and have potential to be outstanding reinforcing fillers in plastics. In our experiments, several types of natural fibers were blended with polyprolylene(PP) and then injection molded, with the fiber weight fractions varying to 60%. A compatibilizer or a coupling agent was used to improve the interaction and adhesion between the non-polar matrix and the polar lignocellulosic fibers. The specific tensile and flexural moduli of a 50% by weight (39% by volume) of kenaf-PP composites compares favorably with 40% by weight of glass fiber (19% by volume)-PP injection molded composites. Furthermore, prelimimary results sugget that natural fiber-PP composites can be regrounded and