Natural fiber blends- filled engineering thermoplastic composites for the automobile industry

Abstract

Natural fibers have several benefits over glass and mineral fibers: they are "green" and eco-friendly; they have high specific strength and modulus; they exhibit sound damping at lower cost and density. Since there is no one optimal fiber for all applications, the goal of this research is to develop blends of natural with optimal physical properties for specific applications in the automobile industry. In this study, engineering thermoplastic composites were prepared from natural fiber blends filled with nylon 6. Natural fiber blends, mixtures of kenaf, flax and hemp fibers, were added to nylon 6 matrices under mixing and temperature. The engineering thermoplastic composites with varying concentrations (from 5 to 20 wt. %) of natural fiber blends were prepared by injection molding and compression molding. Tensile, flexural and impact tests were used to evaluate the mechanical properties of the composites as well as to determine the composite densities. The composites reinforced with higher natural fiber blend loadings displayed enhanced tensile and flexural properties in comparison with the neat nylon6. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to determine thermal properties of the composites. Mechanical and thermal properties demonstrated that the natural fiber blends can be used as excellent reinforcing material for low cost, eco-friendly composites in the automotive industry as well as in other applications such as the building and construction industries, packaging, consumer products etc.