• Masania, Kunal
• Fuentes, C. A.
• Hegemann, D.
• Rion, J.
• Kramer, E.
• Dransfeld, Clemens
• Vuure, A. W. Van
• Woigk, W.

Abstract

<p>Natural materials such as wood exhibit high mechanical properties through cellulose structured at multiple length scales and embedded in a matrix of similar chemical structure. These hierarchical materials have inspired the design of lightweight composites composed of naturally occurring polymers. However, the close proximity of melt and decomposition temperature remain a challenge. In this work, cellulose propionate (CP) is modified to reduce its glass transition temperature and melt viscosity, allowing its use as a matrix in a natural fibre-reinforced composite. Through better impregnation, the modified CP matrix composites showed an increase in stiffness and strength of ∼10% and 20%, respectively, in comparison to unmodified CP matrix composites. The impact properties also increased by up to 28%, showing that modified CP is a credible matrix for realising sustainable all-cellulose natural fibre composites with high stiffness, strength and toughness.</p>

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• melt
• glass
• glass
• strength
• composite
• glass transition temperature
• wood
• cellulose
• thermoplastic
• decomposition
• melt viscosity