Cellulosic Fillers Extracted from Argyreia Speciose Waste: A Potential Reinforcement for Composites to Enhance Properties

ABSTRACT

The growing world population and urge of the improved living standard has increased the demand of materials leading to higher post-consumer waste. This paper investigates the potential of using plant waste (yard cutting) as reinforcement for composite materials, which is either landfilled or burnt. The yard cutting of a creeper plant, Argyreia speciose (local name Tezgam) plant was used for fiber extraction, by water retting. The extracted fibers were treated with an alkali solution and then converted to powder (particle) form by ball milling. The particles obtained, after milling, were used as a reinforcement to fabricate composite material along with jute fabric obtained from waste packing bags. The mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, and impact) of these waste material hybrid composites were investigated. It was found that the filler reinforced composites exhibited higher strength as compared to the others. The addition of fillers also enhanced the modulus of the material, both in tensile and 3-point bending mode. These fillers loaded composites were also able to withstand the maximum force for a longer period during the drop weight impact test. Hence, agricultural waste can be effectively used to develop a value-added product with enhanced performance properties.

摘要

世界人口的增长和人们对生活水平提高的迫切要求增加了对原材料的需求导致了消费后浪费的增加. 本文探讨了利用植物废料(料场切割)作为复合材料的补强材料的潜力. 一种匍匐植物 Argyreia speciose (当地名称Tezgam的庭院采伐被用来通过水抽提纤维. 提取的纤维用碱溶液处理然后通过球磨转化为粉末(颗粒)形态. 研磨后得到的颗粒作为增强体与从废包装袋中获得的黄麻织物一起制成复合材料. 研究了这些废料混杂复合材料的力学性能(拉伸、弯曲和冲击). 结果表明填料增强复合材料具有较高的强度. 填料的加入也提高了材料的模量无论是拉伸还是三点弯曲. 在落锤冲击试验中这些填充物加载的复合材料也能够承受较长时间的最大力. 因此可以有效地利用农业废弃物开发具有增强性能的增值产品.

关键词 : 提取:

• 天然纤维
• 特格姆
• 球磨
• 绿色复合材料
• 机械特性

KEYWORDS:

• Extraction
• natural fiber
• Tezgam
• ball milling
• green composites
• mechanical characterization

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the efforts of Muhammad Anas Shahbaz and Asad Javaid during the experimental work.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no potential conflict of interest.