Abstract
Hemp fiber is a strong natural fiber similar to flax, kenaf, and ramie, possessing very good fiber quality and physical properties of strength, durability, and absorbency. Hemp fiber has been increasingly used for making nonwoven composites that are ideal for the production of biobased auto interior parts. This paper studies the physical properties of a hemp/polypropylene composite and compares these properties with those of a kenaf/polypropylene composite, a ramie/polypropylene composite, and a bagasse/polypropylene composite. The hemp/polypropylene nonwoven was produced by carding and needle-punching techniques and was thermo-bonded to form a hemp composite. Tensile and bending properties were measured using an Instron tensile tester. Dynamic mechanical properties were tested using a DMS instrument. The thermal property was analyzed using a TG instrument. A preliminary study on the ability of the hemp fiber composite to resist termite attack was also conducted. In comparison, the hemp composite featured a better thermal property; the kenaf composite had better mechanical properties; the ramie composite indicated a better acoustical property; and the bagasse composite exhibited better wet properties. Neither hemp nor bagasse fiber composite was capable of resisting termite attack.