Polimeric composites reinforced with natural fibers from Amazon manufactured by infusion

ABSTRACT

The development of composites reinforced with natural fibers is allied to the new logic of sustainable development and enhances the production of environmentally friendly materials. The key to making economically viable and environmentally friendly these new materials involves the adaptation of standard techniques of composites manufacturing to the peculiar and intrinsic properties of natural fibers, such as the infusion process which in function to be a closed mold processing helps reduce of volatile emission to the environment at the fabrication stage. In this work we have been studied as the primary variables of the infusion process affect the properties of the composite when natural fibers are used as reinforcing an unsaturated polyester matrix. They were produced plates reinforced with curaua fibers, jute and raffia arranged in form of aligned fibers or fabric in plain style under different vacuum levels in processing. The increase in the vacuum level changes the fiber compaction condition modifying its porosity, fiber / matrix interface and consequently composite properties. The composites were characterized for its tensile strength, elastic modulus, Charpy impact and porosity. The results showed that the infusion process enabled the manufacture of composites with up to 45% volume fraction of fiber, porosity about 2% and excellent dimensional stability. It was also found that, in general, raising the vacuum level significantly alter the compression ribs conditions changing, depending on the fiber structure used, the efficiency of the interface matrix / reinforcement.

Keywords:
Infusion; curaua; jute; raffia