Properties of injection molded silk/PBS biodegradable composites

摘要

This paper presents a study on injection molded protein fiber reinforced biodegradable composites. Raw silk fiber and polybutylene succinate (PBS) were used as reinforcement and matrix material respectively. The mechanical properties of theses silk/PBS composites and the flow patterns of silk fibers in the molded composites were investigated. Tensile, flexural and Izod impact tests were carried out and the fracture surfaces were observed using SEM. In order to observe the flow patterns of silk fibers in the molded composite, an etching treatment was performed on the surface of the silk/PBS composites using chloroform. The tensile, flexural and Izod impact properties increased with increasing silk fiber volume fraction. The short silk fibers were tangled throughout most of the composite except in the skin layer. In addition, good adhesion was seen in the interface between silk fiber and PBS resin. It is concluded here that the silk fiber can be effectively used as a reinforcement for biodegradable composites.