Mechanical, Viscoelastic and Soil Degradation Performance of Hemp Fiber Reinforced Bio-PBS Composites Developed via Microwave Processing

This study focuses on bio-based natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites (NFRPCs). In this work, bio-polybutylene succinate (bio-PBS) reinforced with hemp fibers (HF) varying at 10 wt%, 20 wt%, and 30 wt% were developed via microwave-assisted compression moulding (MACM) technique. The mechanical properties, crystalline properties, dynamic mechanical analysis, and soil degradation behaviour of these composites were analysed. The study demonstrated that composites with 30 wt% hemp fiber content exhibited the most optimal mechanical properties, with crystallinity increasing by 22%. These composites achieved the highest storage modulus of 13,349 MPa, while their loss modulus was found to be 110% higher compared to neat bio-PBS. Additionally, soil burial experiments revealed that the 30 wt% HF/bio-PBS composites underwent the greatest weight loss after 60 days of soil exposure, indicating superior biodegradability compared to the pure bio-PBS matrix. The work further concluded that hemp fiber-reinforced bio-PBS composites showcased improved mechanical performance, crystallinity, biodegradability, and processing characteristics, surpassing other bio-composite alternatives.

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