Open Access

ARTICLE

Effect of Hemp Fiber on PET/Hemp Composites

by

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.

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Keywords

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