Thermo-Mechanical Properties of PLA/Short Flax Fiber Biocomposites
In this work, biocomposites based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and short flax fibers (10−40 wt.%) were produced by extrusion and characterized in terms of thermal, mechanical, morphological, and thermo-mechanical properties. Analytical models were adopted to predict the tensile properties (s...
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MDPI AG
2019-09-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/18/3797 |
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| author | Laura Aliotta Vito Gigante Maria-Beatrice Coltelli Patrizia Cinelli Andrea Lazzeri Maurizia Seggiani |
| author_facet | Laura Aliotta Vito Gigante Maria-Beatrice Coltelli Patrizia Cinelli Andrea Lazzeri Maurizia Seggiani |
| author_sort | Laura Aliotta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this work, biocomposites based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and short flax fibers (10−40 wt.%) were produced by extrusion and characterized in terms of thermal, mechanical, morphological, and thermo-mechanical properties. Analytical models were adopted to predict the tensile properties (stress at break and elastic modulus) of the composites, and to assess the matrix/fiber interface adhesion. The resulting composites were easily processable by extrusion and injection molding up to 40 wt.% of flax fibers. It was observed that despite any superficial treatment of fibers, the matrix/fiber adhesion was found to be sufficiently strong to ensure an efficient load transfer between the two components obtaining composites with good mechanical properties. The best mechanical performance, in terms of break stress (66 MPa), was obtained with 20 wt.% of flax fibers. The flax fiber acted also as nucleating agent for PLA, leading to an increment of the composite stiffness and, at 40 wt.% of flax fibers, improving the elastic modulus decay near the PLA glass transition temperature. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T05:01:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-48fd88a8c2b3434e914f68eb3086e491 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T05:01:36Z |
| publishDate | 2019-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-48fd88a8c2b3434e914f68eb3086e4912022-12-22T02:01:22ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172019-09-01918379710.3390/app9183797app9183797Thermo-Mechanical Properties of PLA/Short Flax Fiber BiocompositesLaura Aliotta0Vito Gigante1Maria-Beatrice Coltelli2Patrizia Cinelli3Andrea Lazzeri4Maurizia Seggiani5Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Civil and Industrial Engineering, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, ItalyIn this work, biocomposites based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and short flax fibers (10−40 wt.%) were produced by extrusion and characterized in terms of thermal, mechanical, morphological, and thermo-mechanical properties. Analytical models were adopted to predict the tensile properties (stress at break and elastic modulus) of the composites, and to assess the matrix/fiber interface adhesion. The resulting composites were easily processable by extrusion and injection molding up to 40 wt.% of flax fibers. It was observed that despite any superficial treatment of fibers, the matrix/fiber adhesion was found to be sufficiently strong to ensure an efficient load transfer between the two components obtaining composites with good mechanical properties. The best mechanical performance, in terms of break stress (66 MPa), was obtained with 20 wt.% of flax fibers. The flax fiber acted also as nucleating agent for PLA, leading to an increment of the composite stiffness and, at 40 wt.% of flax fibers, improving the elastic modulus decay near the PLA glass transition temperature.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/18/3797poly(lactic acid)flax fibersbiocompositespredictive analytical modelmechanical properties |
| spellingShingle | Laura Aliotta Vito Gigante Maria-Beatrice Coltelli Patrizia Cinelli Andrea Lazzeri Maurizia Seggiani Thermo-Mechanical Properties of PLA/Short Flax Fiber Biocomposites Applied Sciences poly(lactic acid) flax fibers biocomposites predictive analytical model mechanical properties |
| title | Thermo-Mechanical Properties of PLA/Short Flax Fiber Biocomposites |
| title_full | Thermo-Mechanical Properties of PLA/Short Flax Fiber Biocomposites |
| title_fullStr | Thermo-Mechanical Properties of PLA/Short Flax Fiber Biocomposites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thermo-Mechanical Properties of PLA/Short Flax Fiber Biocomposites |
| title_short | Thermo-Mechanical Properties of PLA/Short Flax Fiber Biocomposites |
| title_sort | thermo mechanical properties of pla short flax fiber biocomposites |
| topic | poly(lactic acid) flax fibers biocomposites predictive analytical model mechanical properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/9/18/3797 |
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