Development of Natural Fiber-Reinforced High Temperature Thermoplastic Composites

摘要

The processing temperature of lignocellulosic fiber-reinforced thermoplastics is limited due to the potential of fiber degradation at high temperatures. Therefore, polymer matrices that can be used with natural fibers are also limited to low melting temperature thermoplastics. However, most of these thermoplastics are either incompatible with natural fibers or are inherently weak as compared to high temperature engineering thermoplastics. Therefore, the objective of this study is to improve the thermal stability of natural fibers with the use of thermosetting resin-based surface treatments so that they can act as effective reinforcements for high temperature of engineering thermoplastics. Thermal decomposition characteristics of the jute fibers were evaluated by using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). It was noted that the surface treatments were able to significantly enhance the degradation temperature of jute fibers to above 300 °C. As such, two types of high temperature engineering thermoplastics, i.e. polycarbonate (PC) and poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) were chosen as the matrix resin. Their wettability on the surface treatments was also evaluated to determine the extent of interfacial adhesion. The effects of the surface treatments on the mechanical performance of the fibers as well as composites were also elucidated.