Studies on Properties of Bio-Composites from Ecoflex/Ramie Fabric-Mechanical and Barrier Properties

K. A. Ajith Kumar, M. S. Sreekala, S. Arun

Fatima Mata National College, Kollam - 691001, Kerala, India.
Post Graduate Department of Chemistry, Sree Sankara College, Kalady, India.
Post Graduate Department of Chemistry, Sree Sankara College, Kalady, India;.

DOI: 10.4236/jbnb.2012.33039                

Abstract

Nowadays, utilization of biodegradable materials has become necessary in order to maintain global environmental and ecological balance. ‘Green’ composites offered the possible solution to waste disposal problems associated with traditional petroleum derived plastics. The use of plastics based on removable resources is enormous now a day for the development of true bio-composites. Fully biodegradable ‘Green’ textile composites have been prepared from Ecoflex and ramie fabric. Textile composites were fabricated from the Ecoflex polymer and the ramie fabric by hot compression molding technique. Interactions at the fiber–matrix interface and the compatibility between ramie fabric and Ecoflex polymer will affect the properties of the system. The mechanical property and barrier property of the composites were investigated. Static mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, and elongation at break of the textile bio-composites were analyzed. Sorption characteristics of water, oil and diesel in the textile composites were analyzed in order to determine its outdoor applications and the influence of macro fibers on the transport phenomena was investigated. The kinetics of sorption-diffusion process were investigated. Kinetic parameters such as n, k, diffusion coefficient, permeability, solubility parameter, % swelling index, etc., were analyzed. The water sorption mechanism in the textile composites was found to exhibit slight deviation from Fickian mode.

Keywords

Biodegradable Composites; Mechanical Properties; Water Sorption; Oil Sorption; Diesel Sorption

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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