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Polypropylene composites were prepared from sugarcane bagasse fibers by extrusion and injection molding. Wood flour was used as reference filler in the study. The fiber content of the composites changed between 0 and 30 wt% in 5 wt% steps. Maleated polypropylene was used as coupling agent to improve interfacial adhesion. Mechanical properties were characterized by tensile and fracture testing, while local

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Polypropylene (PP) hybrid composites were prepared by the combination of natural reinforcements and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers. Wood, flax, and sugar palm fibers were used to increase stiffness and strength, while PET fibers served to improve impact resistance. Interfacial adhesion was increased by using a maleated PP (MAPP) coupling agent. The hybrid composites containing 20 wt% of the natural fibers were homogenized in a twin-screw compounder and then injection molded into standard tensile specimens. The amount of PET fibers was changed from 0 to 40 wt% in the composites. Tensile and impact testing, acoustic emission measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for the characterization

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Biocomposites were prepared from poly(lactic acid) and two natural reinforcements, a native starch and sugarcane bagasse fibers. The strength of interfacial adhesion was estimated by model calculations, and local deformation processes were followed by acoustic emission testing. The results showed that the two additives influence properties differently. The strength of interfacial adhesion and thus the extent of reinforcement are similar because of similarities in chemical structure, the large number of OH groups in both reinforcements. Relatively strong interfacial adhesion develops between the components, which renders coupling inefficient. Dissimilar particle characteristics influence local deformation processes considerably. The smaller particle size of starch results in larger debonding stress and thus larger composite strength. The fracture of the bagasse fibers leads to larger energy consumption and to increased impact resistance. Although the environmental benefit of the prepared biocomposites is similar, the overall performance of the bagasse fiber reinforced PLA composites is better than that offered by the PLA/starch composites.