Gas dissolution foaming as a novel approach for the production of lightweight biocomposites of PHB/natural fibre fabrics

The aim of this study is to propose and explore a novel approach for the production of cellular lightweight natural ¿bre, nonwoven, fabric-reinforced biocomposites by means of gas dissolution foaming from composite precursors of polyhydroxybutyrate-based matrix and ¿ax fabric reinforcement. The main...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Ventura Casellas, Heura|||0000-0003-3654-618X, Sorrentino, Luigi, Laguna-Gutiérrez, Ester, Rodríguez Pérez, Miguel Ángel, Ardanuy Raso, Mònica|||0000-0002-9809-2577
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/115110
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/115110
https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/polym10030249
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Biopolymers
Composite materials
Textile fibers--Technological innovations
Biopolymer
Biocomposite
Fabric reinforcement
Natural fibres
Foaming
Teixits i tèxtils -- Innovacions tecnològiques
Biopolímers
Materials compostos
Fibres tèxtils -- Innovacions tecnològiques
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria tèxtil::Fibres tèxtils
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria dels materials
Descripción
Sumario:The aim of this study is to propose and explore a novel approach for the production of cellular lightweight natural ¿bre, nonwoven, fabric-reinforced biocomposites by means of gas dissolution foaming from composite precursors of polyhydroxybutyrate-based matrix and ¿ax fabric reinforcement. The main challenge is the development of a regular cellular structure in the polymeric matrix to reach a weight reduction while keeping a good ¿bre-matrix stress transfer and adhesion. The viability of the process is evaluated through the analysis of the cellular structure and morphology of the composites. The effect of matrix modi¿cation, nonwoven treatment, expansion temperature, and expansion pressure on the density and cellular structure of the cellular composites is evaluated. It was found that the nonwoven fabric plays a key role in the formation of a uniform cellular morphology, although limiting the maximum expansion ratio of the composites. Cellular composites with a signi¿cant reduction of weight (relative densities in the range 0.4–0.5) were successfully obtained