Morphological, Mechanical and Thermal Characterization of Intralayer Hybrid Composites Based on Polylactic Acid (PLA) and Sisal Fiber

AGALIOTIS, ELIANA M.; MORALES-ARIAS, JUAN P.; BERNAL, CELINA R.

Journal of Natural Fibers

Taylor & Francis

Lugar: London; Año: 2021 p. 1 - 12

1544-0478

Novel intralayer hybrid composites (IHC) based on a commercial polylacticacid (PLA) matrix reinforced with a hybrid plain-woven fabric, composed ofPLA filaments and sisal fibers, were obtained by film stacking followed bycompression molding. Two different stacking configurations were explored.In one configuration, weft and warp directions of all fabric layers wereequally oriented whereas in the other configuration, weft and warp directionsof fabric layers were alternately oriented. The effect of the stackingsequence on the materials morphology and thermal and tensile behaviorwas investigated. All obtained composites presented higher thermal stabilitythan the matrix due to the presence of the natural fibers and PLA filamentsand also, the existence of lignocellulosic compounds in the woven fabric ledto a char yield residue, with the expected improvement of flame retardantproperties. Although both IHCs exhibited highly anisotropic tensile behavior,the composite having an alternated fabric layers configuration, presenteda good balance of stiffness and strength for the two main orthogonal loadingdirections.