G. Canche-escamilla et al., Mechanical properties of acrylate-grafted henequen cellulose fibers and their application in composites, COMPOS P A, 30(3), 1999, pp. 349-359
Citations number
30
Categorie Soggetti
Material Science & Engineering
Journal title
COMPOSITES PART A-APPLIED SCIENCE AND MANUFACTURING
The properties of cellulose fiber and PMMA- or PBA-grafted cellulose fibers
are investigated as a function of the initiator (ceric-ammonium nitrate) c
oncentration and the amount of grafted polymer onto cellulose fiber. The mo
lecular weight of cellulose decreases while the crystallinity increases wit
h an increment of initiator concentration because of the partial degradatio
n of the amorphous zone of the fibers exposed to the oxidation by the initi
ator. This results in a reduction of the elastic modulus and tensile streng
th at high initiator concentrations. Degradation of cellulose is partially
inhibited during the grafting process and, therefore, the effect of initiat
or on the mechanical properties is less notorious in the grafted cellulose
fiber. The grafting of PMMA or PEA on the fiber results in lower mechanical
properties than those of the ungrafted cellulose fiber. The reduction of t
he elastic modulus is independent of the amount of grafted PMMA or PEA, but
the tensile strength decreases with the PEA content on the PBA-grafted fib
er. Either the grafted or the ungrafted cellulose fibers improve the mechan
ical properties of plasticized PVC composites, and the best results are obt
ained for PMMA-grafted cellulose fibers because of the better fiber-matrix
adhesion. The Halpin-Tsai equation seems to better agree with the experimen
tal data when there is a good fiber-matrix adhesion. In contrast, for poor
fiber-matrix adhesion the experimental data has a better agreement with the
parallel arrangement equation. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
All rights reserved.