Title: Natural composites: cellulose fibres and the related performance of composites

Authors: Hans Lilholt; Bo Madsen

Addresses: Department of Wind Energy, Section of Composites and Materials Mechanics, Technical University of Denmark, Risø Campus, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark ' Department of Wind Energy, Section of Composites and Materials Mechanics, Technical University of Denmark, Risø Campus, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark

Abstract: Bio-based materials are becoming of increasing interest as potential structural materials for the future. A useful concept in this context is the fibre reinforcement of materials by stiff and strong fibres. The bio-based resources can contribute with cellulose fibres and biopolymers. This offers the potential for stiff and strong biocomposite materials, but these have some limitations and obstacles to full performance. The focus will be on the ultra-structure, and the strength and stiffness of cellulose fibres, on the (unavoidable) defects causing large reductions in strength and moderate reductions in stiffness, on the packing ability of cellulose fibres and the related maximum fibre volume fraction in composites, on the moisture sorption of cellulose fibres and the related mass increase and (large) hygral strains induced, and on the mechanical performance of composites.

Keywords: natural composites; cellulose fibres; structure; strength; stiffness; defects; fibre packing ability; moisture sorption; composite performance; engineering innovation; biomaterials; fibre reinforcement; fibre-reinforced composites; biopolymers; biocomposites.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2014.060326

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2014 Vol.5 No.2, pp.100 - 111

Received: 12 Sep 2013
Accepted: 21 Sep 2013
Published online: 17 May 2014 *

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