Novel cattail fiber composites: converting waste biomass into reinforcement for composites

Abstract

Vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM), used in manufacturing medium to large-sized composites for transportation industries, requires non-woven mats. While non-woven glass mats used in these applications are optimized for resin impregnation and properties, such optimized mats for natural fibers are not available. In the current research, cattail fibers were extracted from plants (18–30% yield) using alkali retting and non-woven cattail fiber mat was manufactured. The extracted fibers exhibited a normal distribution in diameter (d_avg. = 32.1 µm); the modulus and strength varied inversely with diameter, and their average values were 19.1 GPa and 172.3 MPa, respectively. The cattail fiber composites were manufactured using non-woven mats, Stypol polyester resin, VARTM pressure (101 kPa) and compression molding pressures (260 and 560 kPa) and tested. Out-of-plane permeability changed with the fiber volume fraction (V_f) of the mats, which was influenced by areal density, thickness, and fiber packing in the mat. The cattail fibers reinforced the Stypol resin significantly. The modulus and the strength increased with consolidation pressures due to the increase in V_f, with maximum values of 7.4 GPa and 48 MPa, respectively, demonstrating the utility of cattail fibers from waste biomass as reinforcements.

Keywords

Cattail fiber / Waste biomass / Non-woven mat / VARTM / Compression molding / Natural fiber composite

References

[1] AATCC (2010) Fabric hand: guidelines for the subjective evaluation of. In: AATCC technical manual. NC, USA: American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists 85:371–373

[2] Ali A (2013) Surface Modification of hemp fiber to improve spinning properties. M.Sc. thesis, University of Manitoba

[3] ASTM D4892-89 (2004) Standard test method for density of solid pitch (helium pycnometer method). ASTM Int. https://compass-astm-org.uml.idm.oclc.org/download/D4892-89R04.9974.pdf. Accessed 15 Mar 2021

[4] ASTM D3039-17 (2017) Standard test method for tensile properties of polymer matrix composite materials. ASTM Int. https://compass-astm-org.uml.idm.oclc.org/download/D3039D3039M.20048.pdf. Accessed 15 Mar 2021

[5] ASTM D737-18 (2018) Standard test method for air permeability of textile fabrics. ASTM Int. https://compass-astm-org.uml.idm.oclc.org/download/D737.14434.pdf. Accessed 14 Mar 2021

[6] ASTM D3822-14 (2020) Standard test method for tensile properties of single textile fibers. ASTM Int. https://compass-astm-org.uml.idm.oclc.org/download/D3822D3822M.29232.pdf. Accessed 14 Mar 2021

[7] Bajwa DS, Sitz ED, Bajwa SG, Barnick AR. Evaluation of cattail (Typha spp.) for manufacturing composite panels. Ind Crops Prod, 2015, 75: 195-199.

[8] Campbell FC. Structural composite materials, 2010, Geauga: ASM international Publishing

[9] The Canadian Encyclopedia (2015). Wetlands. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/wetlands. Accessed 18 Mar 2019.

[10] Chakma K (2018) Extraction efficiency, quality, and characterization of Typha latifolia L. fibres for textile applications. MSc thesis, University of Manitoba

[11] Fahimian M (2013) Processing-structure-property relationship in needle-punched nonwoven natural fibre mat composites. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Manitoba

[12] Faruk O, Bledzki AK, Fink HP, Sain M. Biocomposites reinforced with natural fibers: 2000–2010. Prog Polym Sci, 2012, 37(11): 1552-1596.

[13] Hasan M (2019) Optimization of Typha fibre extraction and properties for composite applications using desirability function analysis. M.Sc. thesis, University of Manitoba

[14] Ho MP, Wang H, Lee JH, Ho CK, Lau KT, Leng J, Hui D. Critical factors on manufacturing processes of natural fibre composites. Comp Part B, 2012, 43(8): 3549-3562.

[15] Ibrahim I, Sarip S, Bani NA, Ibrahim MH, Hassan MZ. The Weibull probabilities analysis on the single kenaf fiber. AIP Conf Proc, 2018, 1958: 020009.

[16] Joffea R, Andersons J, Wallstrom L. Strength and adhesion characteristics of elementary flax fibres with different surface treatments. Comp Part A, 2003, 34: 603-612.

[17] Karnani R, Mohan K, Ramani N. Biofibre-reinforced polypropylene composites. Polym Eng Sci, 1997, 2: 476-483.

[18] Kongkaew P, Namsak S, Pharanat W. Comparative investigation on physical and mechanical properties of water hyacinth and cattail fiber reinforced epoxy hybrid composites. J Phys, 2018, 1144(1

[19] Lau KT, Hung PY, Zhu MH, Hui D. Properties of natural fibre composites for structural engineering applications. Comp Part B, 2018, 136: 222-233.

[20] Li X, Tabil LP, Panigrahi S. Chemical treatment of natural fibre for use in natural fibre composites: a review. J Polym Environ, 2007, 15: 25-33.

[21] Mazumdar S. Composites manufacturing: materials, product, and process engineering, 2001, Boca Raton: CRC Press

[22] Mbeche SM, Wambua PM, Githinji DN. Mechanical properties of sisal/cattail hybrid-reinforced polyester composites. Adv Mat Sci Eng, 2020, 2020: 1-9.

[23] Mortazavi SM, Moghadam MK. Introduction of a new vegetable fibre for textile application. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009, 113: 3307-3312.

[24] Nishino T, Koichi H, Masaru K, Katsuhiko N, Hiroshi I. Kenaf reinforced biodegradable composite. Comp Sci Tech, 2003, 9: 1281-1286.

[25] Oksman K, Lennart W, Lars AB, Romildo DTF. Morphology and mechanical properties of unidirectional sisal–epoxy composites. J Appl Polym Sci, 2002, 13: 2358-2365.

[26] Rahman M, Cicek N, Chakma K. The optimum parameters for fibre yield (%) and characterization of Typha latifolia L. fibres for textile applications. Fib Polym, 2021, 22(6): 1543-1555.

[27] Sadrmanesh V, Chen Y, Rahman M, AL-Oqla FM. Developing a decision making model to identify the most influential parameters affecting mechanical extraction of bast fibers. J Clean Prod, 2019

[28] Sadrmanesh V, Chen Y, Reza FH, Rahman M, Simon P. Optimization of treatment parameters in extracting canola fiber. Trans ASABE, 2021

[29] Sana R, Foued K, Yosser BM, Mounir J, Slah M, Bernard D. Flexural properties of typha natural fiber-reinforced polyester composites. Fib Polym, 2015, 16(11): 2451-2457.

[30] Shadhin M (2021) Comparative evaluation of flax, cattail, and hemp fiber composites. Master’s thesis, University of Manitoba

[31] Shadhin M, Jayaraman R, Rahman M. Effect of non-woven flax mat manufacturing parameters and consolidation pressure on properties of composites manufactured using VARTM. Polym Comp, 2021

[32] Shih JG, Finkelstein SA. Range dynamics and invasive tendencies in Typha latifolia and Typha angustifolia in eastern North America derived from herbarium and pollen records. Wetlands, 2008, 28(1): 1-16.

[33] Shuvo II, Rahman M, Vahora T, Morrison J, DuCharme S, Choo-Smith L-P. Producing light-weight bast fibers from canola biomass for technical textiles. Text Res J, 2020, 90(11–12): 1311-1325.

[34] Stănescu MM, Bolcu D. A study of some mechanical properties of a category of composites with a hybrid matrix and natural reinforcements. Polymers, 2019, 11(3): 478.

[35] Truong M, Zhong W, Boyko S, Alcock M. A comparative study on natural fibre density measurement. J Tex Inst, 2009, 100(6): 525-529.

[36] Vetayasuporn S. Using cattails (Typha latifolia as a substrate for Pleurotus ostreatus (Fr.) Kummer cultivation. J Biol Sci, 2007, 7: 218-221.

[37] Wambua P, Jan I, Ignaas V. Natural fibres: can they replace glass in fibre reinforced plastics?. Comp Science Tech, 2003, 9: 1259-1264.

[38] Wróbel K, Magdalena MC, Anna K, Magdalena Ż, Jacek K, Lucyna D, Jerzy H, Maciej P, Jan S. New biocomposites based on bioplastic flax fibers and biodegradable polymers. Biotech Prog, 2012, 5: 1336-1346.

[39] Wuzella G, Mahendran AR, Bätge T, Jury S, Kandelbauer A. Novel, binder-free fiber reinforced composites based on a renewable resource from the reed-like plant Typha sp. Ind Crops Prod, 2011, 33(3): 683-689.

[40] Yan L, Nawawi C, Krishnan J. Flax fibre and its composites—a review. Comp Part B, 2014, 56: 296-317.

Funding

University of Manitoba Research Grant Program (URGP)

Canadian Network for Research and Innovation in Machining Technology, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada