Effect of pectin and hemicellulose removal from hemp fibres on the mechanical properties of unidirectional hemp/epoxy composites. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Ming; Meyer, Anne S.; Fernando, Dinesh; Silva, Diogo Alexandre Santos; Daniel, Geoffrey; Thygesen, Anders
• Is Part Of: Composites. Volume 90(2016)
• Page Start: 724
• Page End: 735
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: A. Natural fibres -- A. Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) -- B: Mechanical properties -- B. Porosity; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Manufacturing processes; Periodicals; 620.11805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2016.08.037
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-835X

Abstract

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 endo-polygalacturonase (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 → 10% NaOH treated fibres had the highest stiffness of 43 GPa and the lowest porosity factor of 0.04.