Non‐traditional lightweight polypropylene composites reinforced with milkweed floss

Abstract

Lightweight composites are preferred for automotive applications due to the weight restrictions and also due to the presence of inherent voids that can enhance the sound absorption of these composites. The density of the reinforcing materials plays a crucial role in such lightweight composites. Milkweed is a unique natural cellulose fiber that has a completely hollow center and low density (0.9 g cm−3) unlike any other natural cellulose fiber. The low density of milkweed fibers will allow the incorporation of higher amounts of fiber per unit weight of a composite, which is expected to lead to lightweight composites with better properties. Polypropylene (PP) composites reinforced with milkweed fibers have much better flexural and tensile properties than similar PP composites reinforced with kenaf fibers. Milkweed fiber‐reinforced composites have much higher strength but are stiffer than kenaf fiber‐reinforced PP composites. Increasing the proportion of milkweed in the composites from 35 to 50% increases the flexural strength but decreases the tensile strength. The low density of milkweed fibers allows the incorporation of higher amounts of fibers per unit weight of the composites and hence provides better properties compared to composites reinforced with common cellulose fibers with relatively high density. This research shows that low‐density reinforcing materials can more efficiently reinforce lightweight composites. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry

A Review on Milkweed Fiber Properties as a High-Potential Raw Material in Textile Applications

“…Technical application of Milkweed fibers could also be attributed in composite manufacturing industries especially for reinforcing the cement composite structures [53]. The low density of Milkweed fibers leads to incorporation of higher amount of fibers per unit weight during the composite manufacturing which eventually provides such a lightweight composite structure with better properties [54]. Lightweight composites are preferred for automotive applications due to the weight restrictions and as well as the acceptable sound absorbency.…”

Temperature dependent behavior of thermal conductivity of sub-5 nm Ir film: Defect-electron scattering quantified by residual thermal resistivity

“…First, the milkweed floss is a unique natural cellulose fiber that has a low density due to the presence of a completely hollow center. [9][10][11] No other known natural cellulose fiber has such an overall low density. 9 Consequently it will have a very low overall thermal conductivity.…”

“…[9][10][11] No other known natural cellulose fiber has such an overall low density. 9 Consequently it will have a very low overall thermal conductivity. This will provide a great advantage for studying the Ir film on it because the overall thermal diffusivity would have a great increase even when a very thin Ir film is deposited on it.…”

Temperature-dependent thermal and electrical conduction in metallic nanostructures

“…First, the milkweed floss is a unique natural cellulose fiber that has a low density due to the presence of a completely hollow center. [30][31][32] No other known natural cellulose fiber has such an overall low density. [30] Consequently it will have a very low overall thermal conductivity.…”

“…[30][31][32] No other known natural cellulose fiber has such an overall low density. [30] Consequently it will have a very low overall thermal conductivity. This will provide a great advantage for studying the Ir film on it because the overall thermal diffusivity would have a great increase even when a very thin Ir film is deposited on it.…”