Biodegradable composites based on flax/polyhydroxybutyrate and its copolymer with hydroxyvalerate

The present paper focuses on short flax fibre reinforced composites based on polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and its copolymer with hydroxyvalerate (HV). The effect of the fibre and copolymer content on the mechanical properties of the composites is being discussed. Furthermore, the influence of manufactu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Industrial crops and products 2010, Vol.31 (1), p.34-42
Main Authors: Barkoula, N.M., Garkhail, S.K., Peijs, T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
annealing
Biodegradability
biodegradable products
composite polymers
Compression moulding
flax
Flax fibres
HV copolymer
hydroxy fatty acids
hydroxyvalerate
Injection moulding
PHB
polyhydroxybutyrate
processing technology
Short fibre composites
strength (mechanics)
temperature
tensile strength
weight
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Summary:The present paper focuses on short flax fibre reinforced composites based on polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and its copolymer with hydroxyvalerate (HV). The effect of the fibre and copolymer content on the mechanical properties of the composites is being discussed. Furthermore, the influence of manufacturing method (compression moulding of non-woven mats and injection moulding of short fibre compounds) and processing conditions (cooling temperature and annealing) on the mechanical properties of the composites is being investigated. Finally, the biodegradability of the aforementioned composites expressed as weight, stiffness and strength loss as a function of burrier time is presented on the example of injection moulded flax/PHB/HV composites. It can be concluded that the addition of flax fibres along with controlled processing conditions seems to be a convenient way of toughening of the PHB matrix. Composites manufactured through injection moulding exhibited lower impact strength than those manufactured through compression moulding. Based on the biodegradation study of PHB/HV composites it can be concluded that the tensile properties drop significantly in the initial stage of degradation. The drop in tensile properties is more gradual in the later stages of biodegradation.
ISSN:0926-6690
1872-633X
DOI:10.1016/j.indcrop.2009.08.005