G0410104 Strength and Toughness Improvements of Plant Short Fiber Reinforced Plastics

Abstract

In this study, tensile strength and fracture toughness of plant-short-fiber reinforced PLA (poly (lactic acid)) were experimentally evaluated. Interfacial shear strength between the plant fibers and the matrix resin was also obtained by means of the microbond test. Kenaf bast fibers were used as one of the typical plant fibers and surface treatments (alkali and silane-coupling agent treatments) were also performed to the fibers. It was found that, in general, these surface treatments made interfacial shear strength, tensile strength and fracture toughness of the present kenaf/PLA composites improve as compared to those of untreated fibers.