Benefits of low kenaf loading in biobased composites of poly(L‐lactide) and kenaf fiber |
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| Authors: | Sunny M Ogbomo Kent Chapman Charles Webber Robert Bledsoe Nandika A D'Souza |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas 76203;2. Department of Biological Sciences, Biology Building 210, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas 76203;3. USDA, ARS, SCARL, Highway 3 West Lane, Oklahoma 74555;4. Kenaf International Association, 101 Depot, Ladonia, Texas 75449 |
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| Abstract: | Bast fibers from stems of kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus, L.), a warm‐season tropical herbaceous annual plant, were dispersed into poly‐L ‐lactide (PLLA) matrix by melt‐mixing followed by compression molding. Low fiber fractions (1–5%) were investigated. The composites showed a slight lowering of thermal stability when evaluated by thermogravimentric analysis. X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry indicated an influence of kenaf on the crystallization of PLLA. The fiber dispersion in the polymer matrix was established by polarized optical microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy showed good fiber–matrix adhesion as revealed by the combination of dispersion, interaction, and crystallinity, which enabled an increase in the mechanical properties of the composite that scaled with concentration. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009 |
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| Keywords: | poly‐L‐lactide (PLLA) renewable resources green and biocomposites kenaf crystallization dynamic mechanical analysis |
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