In this experimental study, the performance of injection-molded short flax and hemp fibers in plasticized starch acetate were analyzed in terms of strength. Parameters involved in the analysis are a variable fiber and plasticizer content. The measured strength of the composites varies in the range of 12–51 MPa for flax fibers and 11–42 MPa for hemp fibers, which is significantly higher than the properties of the unreinforced starch acetate matrix. The micro-structural parameters used in modeling of composite strength were obtained from optical observations and indirect measurements. Some of these parameters were qualitatively verified by X-ray microtomography.
Lilholt H and Lawther JM. 1.10. Natural organic fibers. In: Chou T-S (ed.) Comprehensive composite materials, Vol 1. Elsevier Science, 2000.
2.
JoffeRAndersonsJWallströmL. Strength and adhesion characteristics of elementary flax fibres with different surface treatments. Compos Part A2003; 34: 603–612.
3.
AndersonsJSparniņ šEJoffeR. Strength distribution of elementary flax fibres. Compos Sci Technol2005; 65: 693–702.
4.
SummerscalesJDissanayakeNPJVirkAS. A review of bast fibres and their composites. Part 1 – Fibres as reinforcements. Compos Part A2010; 41: 1329–1335.
5.
NampoothiriKMNairRNJohnRP. An overview of the recent developments in polylactide (PLA) research. Bioresource Technol2010; 101: 8493–8501.
6.
YuLDeanKLiL. Polymer blends and composites from renewable resources. Progress Polym Sci2006; 31: 576–602.
7.
LarotondaFDSMatsuiKNSobralPJA. Hygroscopicity and water vapor permeability of Kraft paper impregnated with starch acetate. J Food Eng2005; 71: 394–402.
8.
NättinenKHyvärinenSJoffeR. Naturally compatible: starch acetate/cellulosic fiber composites. I. Processing and properties. Polym Compos2010; 31: 524–535.
9.
MadsenBJoffeRPeltolaH. Short cellulosic fiber/starch acetate composites – micromechanical modeling of Young’s modulus. J Compos Mater2011; 45: 2119–2131.
10.
KellyATysonWR. Tensile properties of fibre-reinforced metals: Copper/tungsten and copper/molybdenum. J Mech Phys Solids1965; 13: 329–350.
11.
FukudaHChouT-W. A probabilistic theory of the strength of short-fibre composites with variable fibre length and orientation. J Mater Sci1982; 17: 1003–1011.
12.
FuS-YLaukeB. Effects of fiber length and fiber orientation distributions on the tensile strength of short-fiber‐reinforced polymers. Compos Sci Technol1996; 56: 1179–1190.
MadsenBLilholtH. Physical and mechanical properties of unidirectional plant fibre composites-an evaluation of the influence of porosity. Compos Sci Technol2003; 63: 1265–1272.
15.
AndersonsJJoffeRSpārniņ šE. Stiffness and strength of flax fiber/polymer matrix composites. Polym Compos2006; 27: 221–229.
16.
TomasonJL. Interfacial strength in thermoplastic composites – at last an industry friendly measurement method?Compos Part A2002; 33: 1283–1288.
17.
BosHLMüssigJvan den OeverMJA. Mechanical properties of short-flax-fibre reinforced compounds. Compos Part A2006; 37: 1591–1604.
18.
LiYPickeringKLFarrellRL. Determination of interfacial shear strength of white rot fungi treated hemp fibre reinforced polypropylene. Compos Sci Technol2009; 69: 1165–1171.
19.
ModniksJPoriķ eEAndersonsJ. Evaluation of the apparent interfacial shear strength in short-flax-fiber/PP composites. Mech Compos Mater2012; 48: 571–578.
AslanMMehmoodSMadsenB. Effect of consolidation pressure on volumetric composition and stiffness of unidirectional flax fibre composites. J Mater Sci2013; 48: 3812–3824.
22.
Boresi AP and Schmidt RJ. Advanced mechanics of materials. 6th ed. NJ, USA: John Wiley & Sons, 2003, p.121.
23.
ThygesenAMadsenBBjerreAB. Cellulosic fibers: effect of processing on fiber bundle strength. J Nat Fiber2011; 8: 161–175.
24.
ThomasonJLCarruthersJ. Natural fiber cross sectional area, its variability and effects on the determination of fibre properties. Biobased Mater Bioenergy2012; 6: 424–430.
