Natural Fiber Composites

1
Natural Fiber Composites

• Larry Peel
• TAMUK
• Parts from Georgia Tech, Kenaf Industries,
  Univ. of Saskatchawan

2
Example Kenaf Industries
Kenaf Industries of South Texas (KIST) is focused
on the commercial development of products from
Kenaf, an alternative annual fiber source. In
addition to marketing kenaf seed to clients
around the world, KIST has moved steadily to
develop and market products containing kenaf
fiber into a widening range of industrial and
consumer markets. Currently (2001), the company
proudly produces and markets KDecking, an
extruded composite lumber that is amazing
durable KBast, strong clean natural fiber
replacement for fiberglass in several industrial
applications like automotive trim and furniture
and BioKasing, a natural, biological lost
circulation control for the world's oil and gas
drilling industry.
3
Example Kenaf Industries
Kenaf is an annual hibiscus plant ... a member
of the mallow family, which includes the
well-known crops of cotton and okra.
4
Example - Door panel made from sisal/Polyurethane
http//www.fe.techpta.ac.za/Static/Polymer/PietMak
hubela/index.asp
5
Example
dashboard support made of 30 sisal fiber
reinforced 30 polypropylene
http//www.fe.techpta.ac.za/Static/Polymer/PietMak
hubela/index.asp
6
Motivation
7
Current Trends
8
Building Products
9
Decking
10
(No Transcript)
11
Automotive Applications
12
Issues

• Bonding between fibers and resin
• Uniform and repeatable fibers
• Lower strength and stiffness than fiberglass,
  better than wood??
• Moisture absorption
• Biodegradable?
• Cost (low materials cost, high finished product
  cost)
• Reliability
• Durability

13
Strength and Modulus
14
(No Transcript)
15
(No Transcript)
16
Relative Costs
17
Short Fiber Dominate
18
Long Fiber discussion
19
Homework Assignment

• Write a 2 page essay on the use of natural fiber
  composites, must have 2 pages of text, cover
  sheet, 1 inch margins, 11 pt font. (if included,
  and references extra)
• In the paper, discuss 5 uses for natural fiber
  composites.
• Discuss 4 natural fibers that could be grown in
  South Texas.
• Compare the costs of natural fiber composites
  with wood building products and other emerging
  uses.