Assessment of Ichu Fibers Extraction and Their Use as Reinforcement in Composite Materials

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the research conducted to develop an optimal methodology to extract useful fibers from the “Ichu” grasses which can be used as reinforcement of polyester resin. Laminates were manufactured and their flexural properties were characterized as well as the optimal fiber properties. Results show that for this kind of materials, the mechanical and retting treatments are insufficient to remove lignin from the raw material state; on the other hand, alkali treatments are considerably effective. Laminates transverse strength shows an improvement (up to 30 MPa) when the alkali treatment time increases. Longitudinal strength and modulus present values around ~144 MPa and ~8.8 GPa respectively with fiber volume fraction around 0.38.

摘要

本文研究了从“伊楚”禾本科植物中提取有用纤维的最佳方法，该纤维可用作聚酯树脂的增强剂。制备了层合板，并对其弯曲性能进行了表征，并对其最佳纤维性能进行了表征。结果表明，对于这类材料，机械处理和毡缩处理不足以将木质素从原料状态中去除，而碱处理则相当有效。当碱处理时间增加时，层合板的横向强度表现出改善（高达30 MPa）。纤维体积分数为0.38左右时，纵向强度和模量分别为144 MPa和8.8 GPa左右。

KEYWORDS:

• Natural fibers
• mechanical properties
• chemical composition
• vacuum infusion

关键词:

• 天然纤维
• 力学性能
• 化学成分
• 真空输注。

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the Cienciactiva (Perú) organization for providing the funds to conduct this research, contract number 117-2016. We are also grateful to the Prof. Joseph Kmec and Homer Savastano Junior, for their comments and suggestions to improve this research. And finally the authors would like to thank to Colin Whitehead, Juliet Eyraud and Ana M. Acosta from Fulbright ETA 2018.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Cienciactiva [117-2016].