Open Access
ARTICLE
Effect of Hemp Fiber on PET/Hemp Composites
Aimé S. Fotso Talla1,2,*, Fouad Erchiqui1,2, Duygu Kocaefe1, Hamid Kaddami3
1
University of Québec in Chicoutimi, 555, boulevard de l’Université, Chicoutimi (Québec) G7H 2B1, Canada
2
School of Engineering, University of Québec in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445, boulevard de l’Université, Rouyn-Noranda (Québec) J9X
5E4, Canada
3
Laboratory of Organometallic and Macromolecular Chemistry-Composite Materials, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, Cadi Ayyad
University, Avenue Abdelkrim Elkhattabi, Marrakech, Morocco
* Corresponding Author:
Journal of Renewable Materials 2014, 2(4), 285-290. https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2014.634122
Received 31 August 2014; Accepted 09 November 2014;
Abstract
The properties of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) reinforced with 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20% (w/w) alkaline-treated
hemp fi bers were investigated following a series of processing stages. The fi ber concentration signifi cantly
impacts the compounding process, yielding thermostable composites below 300°C. Their elastic moduli varied
logarithmically with fi ber concentration, and were increased by up to 20% with respect to the nonreinforced
formulation. Such reinforcement was, however, followed by a drastic decrease in the elongation at break, from
more than 20 mm for the unreinforced PET to as low as 2.5 mm. Other properties showed closer observations
to the variations of the elastic moduli. An appreciably good fi ber-matrix interface was also observed; however
the actual processing method could not take advantage of the fi ber’s length. This work has a major impact in
the development of composite biomaterials, as it extends their application range to the subexploited area of
high-melting thermoplastic matrices reinforced with natural fibers.
Keywords
Cite This Article
S., A., Erchiqui, F., Kocaefe, D., Kaddami, H. (2014). Effect of Hemp Fiber on PET/Hemp Composites.
Journal of Renewable Materials, 2(4), 285–290.