02 Bio Composite

Biocomposite
Bio-composite:
A bio-composite can be defined as a multiphase material formed by a matrix
and reinforcement of any natural plants or fibers. Bio-composites are
environmetal friendly and are sometimes termed “green composite”. They
are biodegradable and can be a partial solution to many global
environmental problems. Fiber-reinforced polymers are the main bio-
composites.
Short natural fiber and long natural fiber polymer composite
Short natural filer Composite:

Short natural fiber composites are those fibers that come from a plant, animal or
mineral source and which length is short. The short fiber length is below 3 mm.
Example of shot fibers are coir (short fiber extract from the outer shell of
coconuts), Alpaca (20-70 microns in diameter).
Long natural fiber Composite:

Long natural fiber are those fibers that come from a plant, animal or mineral
source and which length is long. The long fiber length is up to 3 m. Example of long
fibers are jute (with a length of 1 to 4 m and a diameter of from 17 to 20 microns),
Hemp (diameter ranges from 16 to 50 microns), Silk etc.
Cellulose, Wood and Starch based composite
Cellulose:
Indeed, the concept of bio-composites made from cellulose-based feedstock appears to be an
alternative route to achieve “green” polymer composites. Cellulose-based products have been
traditionally utilized by our society. However, more recently, cellulose has attracted considerable
attention as one of the most well-known renewable and sustainable raw materials for obtaining
environmentally friendly and biocompatible technological products. Amongst the advantages of
using cellulose in polymer composites renewability, cheapness, high specific strength and modulus
are the most inpatient. Cellulose based composites can be found in different fields of application,
including automotive applications, building, packaging and medicine.
Wood:
Wood Composites are made from any fibrous or particulate wood material
that is bonded together either using natural bonding (i.e., no resin) or using
a thermoset resin or a thermoplastic or inorganic binder. This product mix
ranges from fiberboard to laminated beams. Composites are used for a
number of structural and non-structural application.
The basic element for composite wood products may be the fiber, as it is in
paper, but it can also be larger wood particles composed or many fibers and
varying in size and geometry. The elements can be made in a great variety of
sizes and shapes and can be used alone or in combination. The choice is
almost unlimited. These characteristics, along with control of their
variations provide the chief means by which materials can be fabricated
with predetermined properties.
Starch:
Starch is an abundant, biodegradable, renewable, and low-cost commodity that has
been explored as a replacement for petroleum-based plastics. By itself, starch is a
poor replacement for plastics because of its moisture sensitivity and brittle
properties. Other Starch-based plastics are blends with other compatible resins or are
based on chemical treatments that improve the functional properties of various
products. Starch is a semi-crystalline polymer composed of amylose and amylopectin
molecules. Nevertheless, by combining starch with other biodegradable components
starch-based composites with excellent functional properties have been developed.
Many starch-based foam products have been designed for the food industry using a
wide array of foaming processes. Other foaming processes for starch products have
been developed more recently for industrial products. These technologies produce
starch-based foam materials that may appear very similar to polystyrene foam.
Processing of bio-composites
Generally, the processing techniques used for the development of bio-

composites are the same as those used for synthetic fiber-reinforced
polymer composites. These includes press molding, hand lay-up, filament
winding, pultrusion extrusion, injection molding, compression molding, resin
transfer molding and sheet molding compounding etc.
Pultrusion process of Biocomposite:
Pultrusion is a continuous process for biocomposite fabrication. Reinforcement in the
form of continuous rovings or fiber mats is passed through a resin tank. In the resin
tank, the fibers are dipped thoroughly so that they become completely wetted. These
resin saturated fibers are moved to a hot die in which they are moulded into the
shape of the die. The composite is also heat cured in the die. The cured composite
profile is pulled from the hot die with the help of gripper and finally, cut using a cutter
which is positioned after the pulling mechanism in the pultrusion system.
A schematic diagram or a pultrusion system is shown in Figure
The pultrusion process is successfully used to develop hemp/wool-reinforced thermoset polymer

biocomposite rods using three different types of resins (polyester, polyurethane and vinyl ester).
Application of bio-composite:
The application of biocomposite are given below:
1) Biocomposites are used in the automotive industry.
2) Biocomposites have also been introduced in the fields of automobiles, furnitures.
3) Biocomposite have been used wood-based plastic compositesSuch as construction, marine

applications, electrical components, Consumer products, appliances and aerospace
applications.
4) Jute fibre-reintorced polymer composites are used in building components, furniture and
other domestic as well as electrical appliances.
5) Banana fibre-reinforced epoxy composites are suitable for fabrication of telephone stands
and other household applications.

02 Bio Composite

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

02 Bio Composite

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

02 Bio Composite

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Biocomposite

Short natural filer Composite:

Long natural fiber Composite:

Generally, the processing techniques used for the development of bio-

The pultrusion process is successfully used to develop hemp/wool-reinforced thermoset polymer

1) Biocomposites are used in the automotive industry.

2) Biocomposites have also been introduced in the fields of automobiles, furnitures.

3) Biocomposite have been used wood-based plastic compositesSuch as construction, marine

You might also like