Poly(butylene succinate) composites reinforced with short sisal fibres

Poly(butylene succinate) composites reinforced with short sisal fibre were prepared by melt mixing and subsequent injection moulding. The influence of fibre length, fibre content and the surface treatment of the natural fibre s on the mechanical properties of the composites were evaluated. Regarding fibre length, the tensile and flexural properties of the composites had max ima at a fibre length of about 5 mm. The flexural and tensile moduli of the composites increased with increasing fibre content. Although the tensile s trength hardly changed, the flexural strength increased up to a fibre conte nt of 10 wt%. The dynamic mechanical analysis of the composites showed that the storage moduli at above ca.-16 degreesC (corresponding to the glass tr ansition temperature of the matrix) increased with increasing fibre content .