Polymers and Polymer Composites

POLY(E-CAPROLACTONE) COMPOSITES REINFORCED WITH SHORT ABACA FIBRES

May 1, 2003 By: Shibata M; Yosomiya R; Ohta N; Sakamoto A; Takeishi H Research article

Title: POLY(E-CAPROLACTONE) COMPOSITES REINFORCED WITH SHORT ABACA FIBRES
Page Range: p.359-367
Author(s): Shibata M; Yosomiya R; Ohta N; Sakamoto A; Takeishi H
File size: 263K
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Journal: Polymers and Polymer Composites
Issue Year: ppc
Volume: 11
Issue No: No. 5

Abstract
The tensile properties of poly-epsilon-caprolactone, (PCL) composites reinforced with short abaca fibres, prepared by melt mixing and subsequent injection moulding, were investigated and compared with PCL composites reinforced with glass fibres. The influence of fibre content and surface esterification of the natural fibre on the tensile properties was evaluated. The tensile strength and moduli of all the PCL/abaca composites was shown to increase with increasing fibre content, and all had a higher tensile strength than PCL/glass fibre composites when the fibre weight fraction was the same. The tensile strength of the PCL/abaca composites was improved by surface esterification of the fibre with acetic anhydride or butyric anhydride in the presence of pyridine. This was due, it is demonstrated by SEM photographs, to the increase in the interfacial adhesiveness between the matrix polyester and the esterificated fibre. 11 refs.


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