Mechanical performance of windmill palm reinforced textile fabrics and their sustainable composite

Abstract

Windmill palm fibers, as a new type of cellulose fiber, have several advantages such as being environmentally friendly, lightweight, and having excellent mechanical properties. In this paper, different types of windmill palm fibers were used to prepare fabrics. Then, the fabrics were used to prepare palm fabric reinforced composites. The structure and mechanical properties of the raw, alkalized, as well as bleached windmill palm fibers, fabrics, and composites were characterized. The results showed that the windmill palm fibers with removed hemicellulose had the highest mechanical performance, with tensile strength and Young's modulus being 252.72±60.42 MPa and 1.07±0.32 GPa. At the same time, the palm reinforced composites with alkalized windmill palm fiber were endowed with higher mechanical properties with a tensile strength of 69.89±6.30 MPa. The bleached windmill palm fiber exhibited the highest wear resistance. While the alkalized windmill palm fiber had a well UV resistant property. Both alkali treatment and bleach treatment had a positive effect on enhancing the mechanical properties of the palm reinforced composites. The palm reinforced composites are partially degradable, which plays a positive role in promoting carbon neutrality.