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Enhancement of the Mechanical Properties of a Polylactic Acid/Flax Fiber Biocomposite by WPU, WPU/Starch, and TPS Polyurethanes Using Coupling Additives

Mechanics of Composite Materials volume 53, pages 791–800 (2018)Cite this article

This work is addressed to the synthesis of bio-based polymers and investigation of their application in a flax-fiber-reinforced polylactic acid. Polyurethane polymers were synthesized from polyphenyl-methane-diisocyanate, poly (ethylene oxide) glycol, and ricinoleic acid, and their structure was examined by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. It was established that the introduction of flax fibers and different compatibilizers into the polymers improved their mechanical properties. A vinyl-trimetoxy-silane and polyalkenyl-polymaleic-anhydride derivative with a high acid number produced the best effect on the properties, but samples without additives had the highest water absorption capacity. SEM micrographs showed a good correlation between the morphology of fracture structure of the composites and the mechanical properties of flax fibers.

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Acknowledgement

V. Sedlarik and P. Kuchraczyk would like to acknowledge the financial support provided by the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports of the Czech Republic (Grants Nos. LE12002 and LO1504).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Pannonia, Faculty of Engineering, Institute of Chemical Engineering and Process Engineering, MOL Department of Hydrocarbon & Coal Processing, Egyetem u. 10, Veszprém, 8200, Hungary

    N. Miskolczi & E. Riegel

  2. Centre of Polymer Systems, University Institute, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, tr. T. Bati 5678, 76001, Zlín, Czech Republic

    V. Sedlarik & P. Kucharczyk

Authors
  1. N. Miskolczi
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  2. V. Sedlarik
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  3. P. Kucharczyk
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  4. E. Riegel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to N. Miskolczi.

Additional information

Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 53, No. 6, pp. 1137-1152, November-Decemer, 2017.

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Miskolczi, N., Sedlarik, V., Kucharczyk, P. et al. Enhancement of the Mechanical Properties of a Polylactic Acid/Flax Fiber Biocomposite by WPU, WPU/Starch, and TPS Polyurethanes Using Coupling Additives. Mech Compos Mater 53, 791–800 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11029-018-9704-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11029-018-9704-1

Keywords

  • waterborne polyurethane
  • castor oil
  • starch
  • coupling
  • biodegradation