Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing: Biocomposites from Engineered Natural Fibers for Housing Panel Applications

用于房屋面板应用的工程天然纤维生物复合材料。T. Drzal和A. K. MohantyComposite Materials and Structures Center Michigan州立大学，MI 48824该提案的目标是开发用于房屋面板应用的天然纤维（生物基）复合材料，作为当代合成玻璃纤维-聚酯复合材料的环保替代品。 该项目下的研究将调查结合表面处理的韧皮纤维（例如，洋麻、大麻）与叶纤维（例如，菠萝叶）的混合，以协同获得强度、刚度和韧性的所需机械性能。 单独的韧皮纤维生物复合材料显示出高的弯曲/拉伸性能，而单独的叶纤维基生物复合材料显示出最好的冲击性能。 生物纤维的农业来源将为菠萝叶创造新的增值用途，目前菠萝叶是一种废弃/未充分利用的产品。 该项目将通过大学（MSU），房屋面板制造公司（Kemlite）和天然纤维公司（Flaxcraft）的有效合作来执行，以了解行业对镶板系统不断变化的需求和要求，以便最大限度地使用生物复合材料。 所获得的相关结构-加工-性能关系的基本知识将成为生物复合材料商业化进入住宅市场的基础。

Bio-composites from Engineered Natural Fibers for Housing Panel ApplicationsL. T. Drzal and A. K. MohantyComposite Materials and Structures Center Michigan State University, MI 48824This proposal will have as its objective, the development of natural fiber (bio-based) composites for housing panel applications as an environmentally friendly alternative to contemporary synthetic glass fiber - polyester composite materials. Research under this project will investigate the utility of combining surface treated bast fibers (e.g., kenaf, hemp) with leaf fibers (e.g. pineapple leaf) in order to synergistically obtain the desired mechanical properties of strength, stiffness and toughness. The bast fiber bio-composites alone show high flexural/tensile properties while the leaf fiber based bio-composites alone show the best impact properties. The agricultural origin of the biofibers will create a new value-added use for pineapple leaf, at present a waste/underutilized product. This project will be executed through effective collaboration of University (MSU), a housing panel manufacturing company (Kemlite), and a natural fiber company (Flaxcraft) in order to understand the changing demand and requirements of paneling systems by industry so that the use of bio-composites is maximized. The fundamental knowledge of the relevant structure-processing-property relationships gained will be the basis for the commercialization of biocomposites into the housing market.