Cases Succeed for using Natural Fibers as Polymer Reinforcement

Bio fibers including rice husk (RHF), bagasse (BF), empty fruit bunch palm oil (EFBPO), cotton(CF), Eucalyptus(EF) and wood flour(WF)fibers were explored as bio resources reinforcement for polymer applications. They are typically by-products from agro industries in Thailand. The main criterion for employing those natural reinforcement candidates arethe industrial scale abandon and availability. The fiber was either used individually or in combination with each other or hybridize with short fiber glass(FG). For the manufacturing of biocomposite based on poly(lactic acid)(PLA), the mercerized and heat treated BF, EFBPO and CF were completed. The properties of the studied biocomposite were completed with automotive grade PP and ABS polymers. The silane coupling agent or polyester polyols were required during the twin screw compounding process for improving the interfacial adhesion between polymer matrix and the natural fiber reinforcement. It was found that the toughness of PLA/natural fiber composites based on BF or EFBPO alone were adequate. The outstanding mechanical properties of the biocomposites material, especially when compare the referee polymers; PP and ABS, were achieved when those fibers were employed in combination with cotton fiber. The high L/D aspect ratio and the superiority in toughness of cotton were brought into explanation. For the structural engineering applications such as engineered woods manufacturing using epoxy adhesive, the both individual and hybridized bio-fiber and glass fiber were also explored. The engineered woods including MDF andthe sandwich structure of laminated veneer lumber(LVL) were conducted. In house formulated epoxy resins were used as adhesive. Hot compressionwas the main manufacturing process. RHF, BF, EF and WF either independently or the hybridizing with short fiber glass were employed. The teak veneer reinforced with glass woven was used as decorative, mechanical enhancement and protective skins. For the high performance, mechanically and durability product, engineered woods having the multilayer sandwich structure using the PVC foam and wood foam coreswere successfully obtained. The obtained low density wood panel was applied as light weight and high performance construction panel. The engineered wood technologies studied have been patented and commercialized.