Evaluation of the Mechanical, Thermal and Rheological Properties of Hop, Hemp and Wood Fiber Plastic Composites
The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of waste natural fibers from milled hop bines and hemp stalks, without chemical treatment, and compare them to a commercial wood fiber for use in wood–plastic composite (WPC) materials. The fibers were characterized (density, fiber size and chemical comp...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/11/4187 |
| _version_ | 1797597164060278784 |
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| author | Sierra Talcott Benjamin Uptmor Armando G. McDonald |
| author_facet | Sierra Talcott Benjamin Uptmor Armando G. McDonald |
| author_sort | Sierra Talcott |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of waste natural fibers from milled hop bines and hemp stalks, without chemical treatment, and compare them to a commercial wood fiber for use in wood–plastic composite (WPC) materials. The fibers were characterized (density, fiber size and chemical composition). WPCs were produced by the extrusion of a blend of fibers (50%), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and coupling agent (2%). The WPCs were characterized for their mechanical, rheological, thermal, viscoelastic and water resistance properties. Pine fiber was about half the size of hemp and hop fibers and thus had a higher surface area. The pine WPC melts had a higher viscosity than the other two WPCs. Additionally, the tensile and flexural strengths of the pine WPC were higher than those of hop and hemp WPCs. The pine WPC was also shown to have the least water absorption followed by hop and hemp WPCs. This study highlights that different lignocellulosic fibers influence their WPC properties. The properties of the hop- and hemp-based WPCs were comparable to commercial WPCs and can be improved by further milling/screening the fibers to a smaller particle size (volumetric mean of ~88 μm) to increase their surface area, fiber–matrix interactions and improve stress-transfer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:02:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bbb74327e13a4b458dbdfd1f923fe301 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:02:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-bbb74327e13a4b458dbdfd1f923fe3012023-11-18T08:11:27ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442023-06-011611418710.3390/ma16114187Evaluation of the Mechanical, Thermal and Rheological Properties of Hop, Hemp and Wood Fiber Plastic CompositesSierra Talcott0Benjamin Uptmor1Armando G. McDonald2Department of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USADepartment of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USADepartment of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USAThe aim of this study was to evaluate the use of waste natural fibers from milled hop bines and hemp stalks, without chemical treatment, and compare them to a commercial wood fiber for use in wood–plastic composite (WPC) materials. The fibers were characterized (density, fiber size and chemical composition). WPCs were produced by the extrusion of a blend of fibers (50%), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and coupling agent (2%). The WPCs were characterized for their mechanical, rheological, thermal, viscoelastic and water resistance properties. Pine fiber was about half the size of hemp and hop fibers and thus had a higher surface area. The pine WPC melts had a higher viscosity than the other two WPCs. Additionally, the tensile and flexural strengths of the pine WPC were higher than those of hop and hemp WPCs. The pine WPC was also shown to have the least water absorption followed by hop and hemp WPCs. This study highlights that different lignocellulosic fibers influence their WPC properties. The properties of the hop- and hemp-based WPCs were comparable to commercial WPCs and can be improved by further milling/screening the fibers to a smaller particle size (volumetric mean of ~88 μm) to increase their surface area, fiber–matrix interactions and improve stress-transfer.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/11/4187hemp fiberhop fibermechanical propertiesrheologywood–plastic composites |
| spellingShingle | Sierra Talcott Benjamin Uptmor Armando G. McDonald Evaluation of the Mechanical, Thermal and Rheological Properties of Hop, Hemp and Wood Fiber Plastic Composites Materials hemp fiber hop fiber mechanical properties rheology wood–plastic composites |
| title | Evaluation of the Mechanical, Thermal and Rheological Properties of Hop, Hemp and Wood Fiber Plastic Composites |
| title_full | Evaluation of the Mechanical, Thermal and Rheological Properties of Hop, Hemp and Wood Fiber Plastic Composites |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of the Mechanical, Thermal and Rheological Properties of Hop, Hemp and Wood Fiber Plastic Composites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of the Mechanical, Thermal and Rheological Properties of Hop, Hemp and Wood Fiber Plastic Composites |
| title_short | Evaluation of the Mechanical, Thermal and Rheological Properties of Hop, Hemp and Wood Fiber Plastic Composites |
| title_sort | evaluation of the mechanical thermal and rheological properties of hop hemp and wood fiber plastic composites |
| topic | hemp fiber hop fiber mechanical properties rheology wood–plastic composites |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/16/11/4187 |
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