Mechanical Properties of Hybrid Lignocellulosic Fiber-Filled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Biocomposites

Abstract

Biocomposites compounded using acrylonitrile butadiene styrene with sunflower hull and distillers’ dried grains with soluble fibers were analyzed for their effectiveness in hybrid form to understand the combined effect of two fillers. The thermal and mechanical properties of the 20 wt.% fiber hybrid biocomposites were compared against the neat polymer. The biocomposites were processed using twin screw extrusion and injection molded as ASTM test specimens. The hybrid biocomposites showed marginal variations in thermal and physical properties, and showed near equivalent mechanical properties. The thermal and structural properties were attributed to the nonstructural and structural constituents of the fibers, respectively.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Injection molding
• Mechanical testing
• Micromechanics
• Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs)
• Thermomechanical properties

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors wish to acknowledge the technical assistance received from Ms. Jessica L. Lattimer.