The effect of processing conditions for polylactic acid based fibre composites via twin-screw extrusion

Michael A. Gunning, Luke M. Geever, John A. Killion, John G. Lyons, Clement L. Higginbotham

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Hemp, jute and lyocell fibres were incorporated into polylactic acid via twin-screw extrusion using three screw configurations, with varying lengths of mixing sections, in order to reduce the levels of shear and fibre attrition. When mixing zones were reduced, the measured fibre lengths increased and as a result the tensile properties of polylactic acid composites were improved. Similarly impact properties were observed to improve as fibre length increased. However, by increasing the fibre length in polylactic acid composites, fibre surface area within the composite was reduced and subsequently the rate of biodegradation decreased. Composites prepared using different extrusion temperature profiles were shown to have vastly different mechanical properties and in all cases composites produced using low temperature profiles exhibited superior properties to those produced at higher temperatures, indicating thermal degradation at the more elevated temperatures. For example, 50 wt% jute composites exhibited increases of 20.9% and 199% in tensile strength and flexural modulus, the greatest improvement of all composite types at that loading.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)648-662
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites
Volume33
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2014

Keywords

  • Screw configuration
  • compostability
  • fibre
  • mechanical properties
  • polylactic acid

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The effect of processing conditions for polylactic acid based fibre composites via twin-screw extrusion'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this