Search Results

{ Natural fibre-reinforced composite has the potential to replace current materials used for automotive industrial applications. Oilseed flax fibre could be used as reinforcement for composites because it is readily available, environmentally friendly and possesses good mechanical properties. In this research, oilseed flax fibre reinforced-LLDPE and -HDPE biocomposites were developed through extrusion and injection molding. The flax fibre was chemically treated to improve the bond between the fibre and polymer. Flax fibre was mixed with low linear density polyethylene (LLDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) with fibre content varying from 10 to 30% by mass and processed by extrusion and injection molding to biocomposites. The mechanical properties, surface properties, and thermal properties of biocomposites were measured to analyze the treatment and processing effect and to compare the effect of different flax fibre concentrations on the biocomposites.

Flax oil is the main goal of growing flaxseed. Flax oil has been used for nutrition, food, paint binder, putty, and wood finish. However, synthetic resin from flax oil has not been developed. In this paper we will develop a biopolymer derived from flax oil and the goal is to use it as a resin to produce a viable, biodegradable composite using natural fiber as reinforcement. First, the functionalization of the triglyceride group of the flax oil fatty acids with polymerizable chemical groups was studied. The triglyceride molecule of flax oil was epoxidized by the reaction of double bonds in the fatty acid with a peroxy acid (formic acid) to get epoxidized oil; the epoxidized oil was then reacted with ethylenically substituted carboxylic acid (acrylic acid) to form acrylated epoxidized flax oil. Polymer resins were prepared from flax oil by blending acrylated epoxidized flax oil with styrene and a free radical initiator.

Western Canada has large acreage of oilseed flax, but unfortunately a small percentage of total crop residue (flax straw) produced annually is being commercially used. Therefore, farmers are still burning the flax straw. Flax fiber and straw has highest strength amongst the different natural fibers, therefore, the prospect of using them as biorenewable reinforcement in recycled/ virgin polymer matrices has gained attention in recent years. Flax strawboard has a potential to replace the currently used wood and other crop like wheat/barley straw boards for different industrial application. In this research Oilseed flax straw reinforced composite boards were developed using flax shives with biopolymer binder made out of recycled/ pure thermo plastic and flax fiber. Some advantages of such materials are high strength, low density, good insulation capacity against heat and moisture transfer, and biodegradability.

Pelleted animal feeds are processed from ground and mixed feedstocks. The ingredients are pressed through an array of dies at pressures exceeding 35 MPa. Cubing is a related process, producing larger, more fibrous blocks from chopped materials. The end product is a hardened agglomerated mass that needs to be capable of withstanding subsequent handling operations. The measurement of the durability of the product is very important to the processors and feed handlers. The existing ASAE durability tester (S267) is not adequately sensitive to compare the hardness of pellets and cubes. A new tester, with a working principle based on impact and shear, has been developed and refined for usability. The unit can accommodate pelleted and cubed material varying in size and hardness. The paper discusses the development history of the unit and presents some experimental data from its application.

Flax, which is known for its linens and oils that are used for industrial products, can also be utilized as a cost effective and environmentally acceptable approach to the creation of a partially biodegradable biocomposite. Biocomposite material is investigated by combining recycled tire rubber, flax and linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). The manufacturing process which be used to fabricate the biocomposite product included Extrusion and Compression Molding. Optimizing and studying the composition percentages of the compounds were studied in this paper. Moreover, the properties of the product were observed by using tensile test, tearing test, water absorption test, hardness test and Differential Scanning Calorimetry.