Micro Cellulose Grewia Optiva Fiber-reinforced Polymer Composites: Relationship between Structural and Mechanical Properties

ABSTRACT

Bio-based composites are getting popular due to its major contribution to the green materials industry application. Green techniques reduce the toxic gas emission, waste generation and improve environmental protection. The extraction of cellulose microfibers from natural fibers using the steam explosion technique is a cost-effective and traditional method. In this study, cellulose microfiber was extracted from raw Grewia optiva (GO) fiber by a chemo-mechanical method. Chemical treatments like alkaline treatment, steam explosion, bleaching, and acid treatment are used. Also, mechanical defibrillation of fiber was carried out by stirring and homogenization. The chemical compositions of various stages were determined by using ASTM standards. The microscopic, XRD, FTIR and TGA techniques were used to analyze structural and morphological properties of fibers. The extracted cellulose micro Grewia optiva fibers (CMGOF) had an average diameter of 10 μm. TGA results indicated that the thermal properties of isolated cellulose microfibers are improved after chemical treatment. The cellulose micro Grewia optiva fibers reinforced epoxy composites were fabricated adopting the compression molding method by varying the fiber ratio. Also, the mechanical properties of composites with various fiber ratios were investigated. The experimental results revealed that composite having 40 wt% of fiber has shown higher tensile, impact strength and hardness properties.

摘要

生物基复合材料因其在绿色材料工业应用中的重要贡献而备受青睐. 绿色技术减少有毒气体的排放，减少废物的产生，改善环境保护. 传统的蒸汽爆破法从天然纤维中提取纤维素是一种有效的方法. 本研究采用化学机械法从原Grewia optiva（GO）纤维中提取纤维素超细纤维. 化学处理，如碱处理，蒸汽爆破，漂白和酸处理. 同时，通过搅拌和均匀化对纤维进行机械除颤. 采用ASTM标准测定了各阶段的化学成分. 采用显微、XRD、FTIR和TGA等技术对纤维的结构和形态进行了分析. 提取的纤维素微Grewia optiva纤维（CMGOF）平均直径为10μm，热重分析结果表明，经过化学处理后，分离出的纤维素微纤维的热性能有所改善. 通过改变纤维比，采用模压成型方法制备了纤维素微粉Grewia optiva纤维增强环氧树脂复合材料. 研究了不同纤维比对复合材料力学性能的影响. 结果表明，纤维含量为40%的复合材料具有较高的拉伸、冲击强度和硬度.

KEYWORDS:

• Cellulose microfiber
• Grewia optiva
• steam explosion
• composites
• mechanical properties

关键词:

• 纤维素超细纤维
• 蒸汽爆破
• 复合材料
• 力学性能

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the IIT Roorkee, VIT-Vellore and GBPUAT, Uttarakhand for the infrastructures and testing facilities, which helped to complete the project.