Mechanical and Environmental Characterization of Bio-Based Composites
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- Interest in natural fiber reinforced composites has been growing because of their potential to offer low environmental impact alternative to conventional materials. Several studies have shown desirable mechanical properties can be achieved with polymer composites reinforced with natural fibers, but environmental impact is not typically meticulously quantified. This research focuses on a novel biobased composite composed of a poly (β‐hydroxybutyrate)‐co‐(β‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) matrix reinforced with five types of woven natural fiber reinforcement. The polymer matrix can be synthesized from renewable carbon resources and degrades rapidly, as do the reinforcing natural fibers. These advantages must be evaluated within the context of the environmental impacts and mechanical properties of the composites. This paper includes characterization of the tensile and flecxural properties of this novel biobased composite and a comparison of these properties in to several common engineered woods and glass fiber reinforced plastics. Cradle‐to‐gate production of PHBV composites with woven reinforcement, as well as composite degradation, is also analyzed using life‐cycle assessment techniques. Finally, by combining life‐cycle assessment modeling and mechanical characterization, the life‐cycle impacts of the biobased composites are compared to currently available materials on a per application basis.
Description
| Type of resource | text |
|---|---|
| Date created | May 2013 |
| Language | English |
Creators/Contributors
| Author | Miller, SA |
|---|---|
| Author | Lepech, MD |
| Author | Billington, SL |
Subjects
| Subject | biocomposite |
|---|---|
| Subject | life cycle |
| Subject | mechanical properties |
| Genre | Technical report |
Bibliographic information
| Related item | |
|---|---|
| Location | https://purl.stanford.edu/bn021tv2415 |
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- Use and reproduction
- User agrees that, where applicable, content will not be used to identify or to otherwise infringe the privacy or confidentiality rights of individuals. Content distributed via the Stanford Digital Repository may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor.
- License
- This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license (CC BY).
Preferred citation
- Preferred Citation
- Miller, SA, Lepech, MD and Billington, SL. (2013). Mechanical and Environmental Characterization of Bio-Based Composites. John A. Blume Earthquake Engineering Center Technical Report 179. Stanford Digital Repository. Available at: http://purl.stanford.edu/bn021tv2415
Collection
John A. Blume Earthquake Engineering Center Technical Report Series
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- Contact
- jabeec-email@stanford.edu
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