Improving the Long-Term Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Short Natural Fiber Compounds by Using Alternative Matrices
Wood plastic composites (WPCs) offer a means to reduce the carbon footprint by incorporating natural fibers to enhance the mechanical properties. However, there is limited information on the mechanical properties of these materials under hostile conditions. This study evaluated composites of polypro...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Biomimetics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/10/1/46 |
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| author | Renato Lemos Cosse Tobias van der Most Vincent S. D. Voet Rudy Folkersma Katja Loos |
| author_facet | Renato Lemos Cosse Tobias van der Most Vincent S. D. Voet Rudy Folkersma Katja Loos |
| author_sort | Renato Lemos Cosse |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Wood plastic composites (WPCs) offer a means to reduce the carbon footprint by incorporating natural fibers to enhance the mechanical properties. However, there is limited information on the mechanical properties of these materials under hostile conditions. This study evaluated composites of polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polylactic acid (PLA) processed via extrusion and injection molding. Tests were conducted on tensile and flexural strength and modulus, heat deflection temperature (HDT), and creep analysis under varying relative humidity conditions (10% and 90%) and water immersion, followed by freeze—thaw cycles. The addition of fibers generally improved the mechanical properties but increased water absorption. HDT and creep were dependent on the crystallinity of the composites. PLA and PS demonstrated a superior overall performance, except for their impact properties, where PP was slightly better than PLA. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8dde496ced644a818dc67046aa902ea0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2313-7673 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Biomimetics |
| spelling | doaj-art-8dde496ced644a818dc67046aa902ea02025-01-24T13:24:42ZengMDPI AGBiomimetics2313-76732025-01-011014610.3390/biomimetics10010046Improving the Long-Term Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Short Natural Fiber Compounds by Using Alternative MatricesRenato Lemos Cosse0Tobias van der Most1Vincent S. D. Voet2Rudy Folkersma3Katja Loos4Circular Plastics, Academy Tech & Design, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Van Schaikweg 94, 7811 KL Emmen, The NetherlandsCircular Plastics, Academy Tech & Design, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Van Schaikweg 94, 7811 KL Emmen, The NetherlandsCircular Plastics, Academy Tech & Design, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Van Schaikweg 94, 7811 KL Emmen, The NetherlandsCircular Plastics, Academy Tech & Design, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Van Schaikweg 94, 7811 KL Emmen, The NetherlandsMacromolecular Chemistry and New Polymeric Materials, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 3, 9747 AG Groningen, The NetherlandsWood plastic composites (WPCs) offer a means to reduce the carbon footprint by incorporating natural fibers to enhance the mechanical properties. However, there is limited information on the mechanical properties of these materials under hostile conditions. This study evaluated composites of polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polylactic acid (PLA) processed via extrusion and injection molding. Tests were conducted on tensile and flexural strength and modulus, heat deflection temperature (HDT), and creep analysis under varying relative humidity conditions (10% and 90%) and water immersion, followed by freeze—thaw cycles. The addition of fibers generally improved the mechanical properties but increased water absorption. HDT and creep were dependent on the crystallinity of the composites. PLA and PS demonstrated a superior overall performance, except for their impact properties, where PP was slightly better than PLA.https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/10/1/46wood plastic compositesnatural fiber reinforcementthermoplastic matricesmechanical properties in hostile environmentwater absorptionmechanical properties under moisture |
| spellingShingle | Renato Lemos Cosse Tobias van der Most Vincent S. D. Voet Rudy Folkersma Katja Loos Improving the Long-Term Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Short Natural Fiber Compounds by Using Alternative Matrices Biomimetics wood plastic composites natural fiber reinforcement thermoplastic matrices mechanical properties in hostile environment water absorption mechanical properties under moisture |
| title | Improving the Long-Term Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Short Natural Fiber Compounds by Using Alternative Matrices |
| title_full | Improving the Long-Term Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Short Natural Fiber Compounds by Using Alternative Matrices |
| title_fullStr | Improving the Long-Term Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Short Natural Fiber Compounds by Using Alternative Matrices |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving the Long-Term Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Short Natural Fiber Compounds by Using Alternative Matrices |
| title_short | Improving the Long-Term Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastic Short Natural Fiber Compounds by Using Alternative Matrices |
| title_sort | improving the long term mechanical properties of thermoplastic short natural fiber compounds by using alternative matrices |
| topic | wood plastic composites natural fiber reinforcement thermoplastic matrices mechanical properties in hostile environment water absorption mechanical properties under moisture |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2313-7673/10/1/46 |
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