Mechanical Properties of Poly(Butylene Succinate) Reinforced with Continuously Steam-Exploded Cotton Stalk Bast

Abstract

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) was reinforced by cotton stalk bast fibers (CSBF), which had been pretreated by the continuous steam explosion method. The influence of water content in CSBF during the explosion and fiber content on the mechanical properties of CSBF/PBS biocomposites was investigated. The results showed that the incorporation of CSBF decreased the tensile and impact strength, while significantly enhanced the flexural strength, flexural modulus and tensile modulus. The mechanical properties of biocomposites reinforced by exploded fibers were much better than that of the biocomposites reinforced by non-exploded fibers. Biocomposites reinforced by fibers with 40 and 50 wt% water contents during the explosion had the best mechanical properties. The morphology of CSBF and biocomposites was evaluated by SEM, which demonstrated that fibers with 40 and 50 wt% water contents had better separation and rougher microsurfaces, indicating a better adhesion between PBS matrix and fibers.

Keywords:

• Biocomposites
• Continuous steam explosion
• Mechanical properties
• Natural fiber
• Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)

Notes

Contract grant sponsor: the National Nature Science Foundation (No. 10872071, 50973035 and 50903033), the National Key Technology R&D Program (No. 2009BAI84B05 and 2009BAI84B06), the Science & Technology Project of Guangzhou City (No. 2007Z2-D9151) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2009ZM0317), PR China.