Biobased Polyethylene Hybrid Composites with Natural Fiber: Mechanical, Thermal Properties, and Micromechanics

Patrycja Bazan; Przemysław Nosal; Barbara Kozub; Stanisław Kuciel

doi:10.3390/ma13132967

Biobased Polyethylene Hybrid Composites with Natural Fiber: Mechanical, Thermal Properties, and Micromechanics

Materials (Basel). 2020 Jul 2;13(13):2967. doi: 10.3390/ma13132967.

Authors

Patrycja Bazan¹, Przemysław Nosal², Barbara Kozub¹, Stanisław Kuciel¹

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Materials Engineering and Physics, Institute of Materials Engineering, Tadeusz Kosciuszko Cracow University of Technology, Al. Jana Pawła II 37, 31-864 Cracow, Poland.
² Department of the Strength and Fatigue of Materials and Structures, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Cracow, Poland.

Abstract

The work assumed the possibility of the introduction natural fibers as a hybrid reinforcement of bio-polyethylene composites. Coconut fibers, basalt fibers and wood flour were used in different combination as a hybrid merger. Mechanical tests were conducted. An increase in the mechanical properties was shown as an effect of the introduction of the fibers info the polymeric matrix. A synergic influence of hybrid reinforcement was also presented. Experimental results were compared with modeling parameters. The hydrothermal and accelerated thermal ageing effects on the mechanical behavior of composites were presented. Scanning electron microscope images were observed in order to analyze structure of examined composites.

Keywords: basalt fiber; bio-polyethylene; coconut fiber; hybrid composites; modeling; natural fibers; wood flour.