Mechanical Properties of Silk/Bamboo Hybrid Paper Reinforced PBS Green Composite

Abstract

In order to recycle the waste silk resource effectively, the biodegradable composite consisting of PBS matrix and silk/bamboo hybrid paper was prepared by hot compression molding. Beating treatment is adopted to modify silk fibroin and enhance the bamboo paper and the green composite, and the corresponding mechanical properties and morphologies were studied detailedly. The results showed that beating treatment could realize the fibrillation of fibroin and improve the hybrid paper's tensile strength and elongation, and proper beating treatment to fibroin could also improve the mechanical properties of silk/bamboo hybrid paper reinforced PBS composite. The tensile, flexural and impact resistance properties of this green composite were improved remarkably compared with that of PBS control.

Effect of PVA Binder on the Mechanical Properties of Silk/Bamboo Paper-Reinforced PBS Green Composite

“…Because of these properties, processes and applications utilizing natural fibers as reinforcement for plastic composites have been increasingly studied by many researchers in recent years [3][4][5]. In previous studies by our research group [6,7], both silk paper-and silk/ bamboo paper-reinforced poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) green composites have been developed using waste silk, and the corresponding mechanical properties have been studied in detail. Papermaking results in a network structure containing an improved distribution of short fibers, aiding connectivity between the fibers.…”