Title: INFLUENCE OF CHOPPED FIBRE LENGTH ON THE MECHANICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF SILK FIBRE-REINFORCED POLY(BUTYLENE SUCCINATE) BIOCOMPOSITES
Page Range: p.479-488
Author(s): Sang Muk Lee; Seong Ok Han; Donghwan Cho; Won Ho Park; Seung Goo Lee
File size: 171K
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Journal: Polymers and Polymer Composites
Issue Year: ppc
Volume: 13
Issue No: No. 5
Abstract
Chopped silk fibre biocomposites based on polybutylene succinate (PBS) were prepared, and the influence of the fibre length on the mechanical and thermal properties of the biocomposite were investigated. In particular, tensile and flexural properties, thermal stability, thermal expansion and dynamic mechanical properties were evaluated. The results are claimed to demonstrate that the chopped silk fibres play an effective role in improving the mechanical properties of PBS in the present system. At a fixed fibre loading of 40 wt% the tensile strength and modulus of the PBS control were improved by 69% and 228% respectively, in comparison with those of the biocomposite reinforced with 25.4 mm silk fibres. Improvements in thermal properties are also reported. 14 refs.