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Preparation and Applications of Lignocellulosic Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

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A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Composites and Nanocomposites".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 6319

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Verônica Scarpini Candido

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Guest Editor

Materials Science and Engineering Program, Federal University of Para, Ananindeua 67030-007, PA, Brazil
Interests: mechanical properties; microstructure; mechanical testing; polymers; material characterization; SEM analysis; materials; advanced materials; materials testing; mechanical behavior of materials; composites; natural fibers

Prof. Dr. Alisson Clay Rios Da Silva

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Materials Science and Engineering Program, Federal University of Pará, Belém-Pa. Tv We 26, Ananindeua 67130-660, PA, Brazil
Interests: paper and pulp industry; paint industry

Prof. Dr. Jordão Cabral Moulin

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Forest and Wood Sciences Department, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Jeronimo Monteiro, Vitória 29550-000, Brazil
Interests: wood products; wood quality; wood technology; wood anatomy; natural fibers

Prof. Dr. Michel Picanço Oliveira

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Agricultural Sciences and Engineering Center, Federal University Espírito Santo, Jerônimo Monteiro 29550-000, ES, Brazil
Interests: nanocomposite; chemical analysis; mechanical behavior; polyester; cellulose nanocrystal; fiber surface; polymer biocomposite

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite materials have been widely used in a variety of industrial sectors because they combine good mechanical performance, thermal stability and application versatility. With regard to sustainability, composites reinforced with lignocellulosic fibers have been gaining emphasis as, in addition to having excellent mechanical properties, they are low cost and environmentally friendly. Lignocellulosic fibers have promoted interest because they are abundant, biodegradable and can present exceptional mechanical performance. In addition, the study of this material can contribute to sustainable development and produce materials that combine excellent technological properties and environmental preservation. Thus, this Special Issue aims to publish research articles, review articles and short communications on polymeric matrix composites reinforced with lignocellulosic fibers for application in several areas, as well as examinations of the characterization of these fibers.

Dr. Verônica Scarpini Candido
Prof. Dr. Alisson Clay Rios Da Silva
Prof. Dr. Jordão Cabral Moulin
Prof. Dr. Michel Picanço Oliveira
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

lignocellulosic fibers
composite materials
polymers
characterization
mechanical properties, thermal properties
applications
sustainability
fiber-reinforced composites
natural polymeric matrix
microstructure

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 3953 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Babassu Coconut Fibers: Investigation of Chemical and Surface Properties (Attalea speciosa.)

by Yago Soares Chaves, Pedro Henrique Poubel Mendonça da Silveira, Sergio Neves Monteiro and Lucio Fabio Cassiano Nascimento

Polymers 2023, 15(19), 3863; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15193863 - 23 Sep 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1051

Abstract

To complement previous results, an analysis of the chemical and morphological properties of babassu fibers (Attalea speciosa Mart. ex Spreng.) was conducted in order to evaluate their potential as reinforcements in the production of composites with epoxy matrix. The diameter distribution was analyzed in a sample of one hundred fibers, allowing the verification of its variation. The determination of the chemical properties involved experimental analyses of the constituent index and X-ray diffraction. The diffractogram was used to calculate the crystallinity index and the microfibril angle, which are crucial parameters that indicate the consistency of the mechanical properties of babassu fibers and the feasibility of their use in composites. The results revealed that babassu fiber has a chemical composition, with contents of 28.53% lignin, 32.34% hemicellulose, and 37.97% cellulose. In addition, it showed a high crystallinity index of 81.06% and a microfibril angle of 7.67°. These characteristics, together with previous results, indicate that babassu fibers have favorable chemical and morphological properties to be used as reinforcements in composites, highlighting its potential as an important material for applications in technology areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preparation and Applications of Lignocellulosic Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites)

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19 pages, 8957 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Yarn and Carded Jute as Epoxy Matrix Reinforcement for the Production of Composite Materials for Application in the Wind Sector: A Preliminary Analysis for the Manufacture of Blades for Low-Intensity Winds

by Robson Luis Baleeiro Cardoso, Jean da Silva Rodrigues, Roberto Paulo Barbosa Ramos, Alessandro de Castro Correa, Elza Monteiro Leão Filha, Sergio Neves Monteiro, Alisson Clay Rios da Silva, Roberto Tetsuo Fujiyama and Verônica Scarpini Candido

Polymers 2023, 15(18), 3682; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15183682 - 07 Sep 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1330

Abstract

The development of wind turbines for regions with low wind speeds imposes a challenge to the expansion of the corresponding energy generation capacity. The present work consists of an evaluation of the potential carded jute fiber and jute yarn to be used in the construction of a wind blade for regions of low wind intensity. The fibers used were supplied by Company Textile of Castanhal (Castanhal-Para-Brazil) and used in the study without chemical treatment in the form of single-filament fibers and yarns with a surface twist of 18.5°. The composites were produced through the resin infusion technique and underwent tensile and shear tests using 120-Ohm strain gauges and a blade extensometer to obtain the Young’s modulus. In the analysis of the results, the ANOVA test was applied with a 0.05 significance level, followed by Tukey’s test. The results showed that long, aligned jute fibers can be a good option for laminated structures applied in composites for small wind turbine blades. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preparation and Applications of Lignocellulosic Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites)

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18 pages, 9928 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ballistic Behavior of Epoxy Composites Reinforced with Amazon Titica Vine Fibers (Heteropsis flexuosa) in Multilayered Armor System and as Stand-Alone Target

by Juliana dos Santos Carneiro da Cunha, Lucio Fabio Cassiano Nascimento, Ulisses Oliveira Costa, Wendell Bruno Almeida Bezerra, Michelle Souza Oliveira, Maria de Fátima Vieira Marques, Ana Paula Senra Soares and Sergio Neves Monteiro

Polymers 2023, 15(17), 3550; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15173550 - 26 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 961

Abstract

Seeking to improve personal armor equipment by providing mobility and resistance to penetration, this research aimed to explore the potential of sustainable materials in order to assess their ability in ballistic applications. Titica vine fibers (TVFs) extracted from aerial roots of Heteropsis flexuosa from the Amazon region were incorporated at 10, 20, 30, and 40 vol% into an epoxy matrix for applications in ballistic multilayered armor systems (MASs) and stand-alone tests for personal protection against high-velocity 7.62 mm ammunition. The back-face signature (BFS) depth measured for composites with 20 and 40 vol% TVFs used as an intermediate layer in MASs was 25.6 and 32.5 mm, respectively, and below the maximum limit of 44 mm set by the international standard. Fracture mechanisms found by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) attested the relevance of increasing the fiber content for applications in MASs. The results of stand-alone tests showed that the control (0 vol%) and samples with 20 vol% TVFs absorbed the highest impact energy (E_abs) (212–176 J), and consequently displayed limit velocity (V_L) values (213–194 m/s), when compared with 40 vol% fiber composites. However, the macroscopic evaluation found that, referring to the control samples, the plain epoxy shattered completely. In addition, for 10 and 20 vol% TVFs, the composites were fragmented or exhibited delamination fractures, which compromised their physical integrity. On the other hand, composites with 30 and 40 vol% TVFs, whose E_abs and V_L varied between 166–130 J and 189–167 m/s, respectively, showed the best physical stability. The SEM images indicated that for composites with 10 and 20 vol% TVFs, the fracture mode was predominantly brittle due to the greater participation of the epoxy resin and the discrete action of the fibers, while for composites with 30 and 40 vol% TVFs, there was activation of more complex mechanisms such as pullout, shearing, and fiber rupture. These results indicate that the TVF composite has great potential for use in bulletproof vests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preparation and Applications of Lignocellulosic Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites)

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23 pages, 16114 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Thermo-Mechanical and Chemical Properties of Polypropylene/Hemp Fiber Biocomposites: Impact of Maleic Anhydride Compatibilizer and Fiber Content

by Pedro Henrique Poubel Mendonça da Silveira, Mônica Cristina Celestino dos Santos, Yago Soares Chaves, Matheus Pereira Ribeiro, Belayne Zanini Marchi, Sergio Neves Monteiro, Alaelson Vieira Gomes, Neyda de La Caridad Om Tapanes, Patricia Soares da Costa Pereira and Daniele Cruz Bastos

Polymers 2023, 15(15), 3271; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15153271 - 01 Aug 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1342

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive study on the physical, mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of polypropylene (PP) composites reinforced with hemp fibers (HF) and compatibilized with maleic anhydride (MAPP). The composites were processed using a twin-screw extruder, followed by hot compression at 190 °C. Subsequently, the composites were analyzed using Izod impact and Shore D hardness tests to evaluate their mechanical properties. Thermal properties were investigated through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), while X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were employed to study their chemical properties. Additionally, a statistical analysis was conducted to compare the average results of the impact and hardness tests. XRD analysis revealed that the addition of HF and MAPP led to the disappearance of peaks corresponding to the beta phase in pure PP. Hemp fibers exhibited an impressive crystallinity of 82.10%, surpassing other natural fibers, and had a significant molecular orientation angle (MFA) of 6.06°, making them highly desirable for engineering applications. The crystallite size was observed to be relatively large, at 32.49 nm. FTIR analysis demonstrated strong interactions between the fiber, compatibilizing agent, and polymer matrix. TGA tests showed that the addition of 5 and 10 wt.% MAPP resulted in complete degradation of the composites, similar to pure PP. DSC analyses indicated a reduction in crystallinity (X_c) due to the incorporation of HF and MAPP. Shore D hardness tests revealed an increase in hardness with the addition of 5 wt.% MAPP, while a steep decline in this property was observed with 10 wt.% MAPP. In terms of impact resistance, fractions of 3 and 5 wt.% MAPP in the composites exhibited improved performance compared to the pure polymer. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to ensure the statistical reliability of the mechanical test results. This comprehensive study sheds light on the diverse properties of PP composites reinforced with hemp fibers and compatibilized with MAPP, emphasizing their potential as sustainable materials for engineering applications. The results contribute to the understanding of the structural and functional aspects of these composites, guiding future research and developments in the field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preparation and Applications of Lignocellulosic Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites)

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16 pages, 3239 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi Scale Analysis of the Retting and Process Effect on the Properties of Flax Bio-Based Composites

by Mohamed Ragoubi, Morgan Lecoublet, Medhi Khennache, Christophe Poilane and Nathalie Leblanc

Polymers 2023, 15(11), 2531; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15112531 - 31 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1115

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate, at different scales (technical flax fiber, fiber band and flax composites, bio-based composites), the effect of retting and processing parameters on the biochemical, microstructural, and mechanical properties of flax-epoxy bio-based materials. On the technical flax fiber scale, a biochemical alteration of the fiber was observed as the retting increased (a decrease of the soluble fraction from 10.4 ± 0.2 to 4.5 ± 1.2% and an increase of the holocellulose fractions). This finding was associated with the degradation of the middle lamella, favoring the individualization of the flax fibers observed at retting (+). A direct link was established between the biochemical alteration of technical flax fibers and their associated mechanical properties (decrease of the ultimate modulus 69.9 to 43.6 GPa and maximum stress from 702 to 328 MPa). On the flax band scale, the mechanical properties are driven by the interface quality between the technical fibers. The highest maximum stresses were reached at level retting (0) with 26.68 MPa, which is lower compared to technical fiber. On the bio-based composites scale, setup 3 (T = 160

^{\circ}

C) and the high retting level (+) are the most relevant for a better mechanical response of flax bio-based materials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Preparation and Applications of Lignocellulosic Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites)

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