Effect of pectin and hemicellulose removal from hemp fibres on the mechanical properties of unidirectional hemp/epoxy composites

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of pectin and hemicellulose removal from hemp fibres on the mechanical properties of hemp fibre/epoxy composites. Pectin removal by EDTA and endopolygalacturonase (EPG) removed epidermal and parenchyma cells from hemp fibres and improved fibre separation. Hemicellulose removal by NaOH further improved fibre surface cleanliness. Removal of epidermal and parenchyma cells combined with improved fibre separation decreased composite porosity factor. As a result, pectin removal increased composite stiffness and ultimate tensile strength (UTS). Hemicellulose removal increased composite stiffness, but decreased composite UTS due to removal of xyloglucans. In comparison of all fibre treatments, composites with 0.5% EDTA + 0.2% EPG treated fibres had the highest tensile strength of 327 MPa at fibre volume content of 50%. Composites with 0.5% EDTA + 0.2% EPG -> 0% NaOH treated fibres had the highest stiffness of 43 GPa and the lowest porosity factor of 0.04. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Natural fibres; Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs); Mechanical properties; Porosity

Published in

Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
2016, volume: 90, pages: 724-735
Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI LTD

SLU Authors

• Fernando, Dinesh

  • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Daniel, Geoffrey

  • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Wood Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2016.08.037

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/78192