Composite compounds based on plasticized starch acetate and hemp and flax fibers were prepared by melt compounding and injection molded. The effect of process steps, melt viscosity and fiber type on the fiber length was investigated. The lengths of fully processed fibers were determined after extraction by optical microscopy and image analysis. A reductive effect of the pelletizing and melt processing on the fiber length was noticed. A reduction of fiber length along the increasing fiber and decreasing plasticizer content was detected, respectively. This reduction was assigned to the increasing shear forces during compounding, which again depended on the increased viscosity of the material. The analytics testify for the better performance of the hemp in comparison with the flax fibers. In addition, the analysis of fiber dispersion and orientation showed a good dispersion of fibers in the matrix, and a predominant orientation of the fibers in the melt flow direction.

Effects of process history on natural fibre properties in composites

241st National Meeting (2011)

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