Achieving High-Performance Green Composites from Pineapple Leaf Fiber–Poly(butylene succinate) through Both Fiber Alignment and Matrix Orientation across the Thickness

Abstract

This research aims to develop high-performance and low-carbon composites using biobased poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) reinforced with well-aligned pineapple leaf fibers (PALF). PBS/PALF composites containing 10 and 20% PALF by weight (wt %) were prepared using a two-roll mill. During the mixing process, the molten material was slightly stretched to align the fibers in the machine direction, forming a uniaxial prepreg. The prepreg was subsequently stacked and compressed into composite sheets at compression temperatures of 120 and 140 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, and crystalline morphology analysis revealed the presence of matrix orientation in the prepreg, which was preserved in sheets compressed at 120 °C but not at 140 °C. The composites prepared at 120 °C exhibited significantly higher flexural strength and modulus compared to those prepared at 140 °C, attributed to the combined effect of matrix and PALF orientation. Additionally, the composites displayed an increase in heat distortion temperature, with a maximum of 10 °C higher than the matrix melting temperature (∼113 °C) for the composite with 20 wt % PALF. These findings indicate the potential for increased utilization of this low-carbon green composite.

Preparation and Spectroscopic, Thermal, and Mechanical Characterization of Biocomposites of Poly(butylene succinate) and Onion Peels or Durum Wheat Bran

“…The main way to reduce the price of biodegradable polymer materials as well as to modify their properties is to use natural fillers such as wood chips [9], ground bran of wheat cereals [10][11][12], rice [13], ground coffee beans [14][15][16], shells of various nuts [17][18][19], natural fibers [20] (cellulose, hemp, flax, sugar cane, bamboo) and many other types of agricultural waste [21][22][23][24]. The latest works published in 2023 year on PBS compositions concerns the use of fillers such as biochar [25][26][27], flax and pineapple leaf fiber [28,29], graphene nanoplatelets and starch-based materials [30], biogenic wine by-products [31], plant fibers (jute, kenaf, flax, and hemp) [32], rice straw fiber [33], and nanofibrillated cellulose [34].…”