New Eco-Friendly Biocomposite Materials Developed Using Sugar Palm Fibre and Silicone RubberNew Eco-Friendly Biocomposite Materials Developed Using Sugar Palm Fibre and Silicone Rubber
Published on June 8th, 2024
Researchers have developed a new class of environmentally-friendly biocomposite materials by reinforcing silicone rubber with sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) fibre. The study, published in the journal Materials, investigated the morphological, physical, and mechanical properties of these silicone-based biocomposites.
The researchers found that adding sugar palm fibre to the silicone rubber improved the stiffness and viscoelastic properties of the material. Tensile tests showed the composite's stiffness increased with higher fibre content. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed the storage and loss moduli also improved with increased fibre loading.
Physical property testing indicated the density and moisture absorption rate of the biocomposites increased as more fibre was added. Interestingly, the swelling ratio was lowest for the highest fibre content (16 wt%), compared to lower fibre loadings and pure silicone rubber.
Scanning electron microscopy analysis confirmed the sugar palm fibre was well-dispersed in the silicone matrix, with no agglomeration observed.
The researchers conclude that incorporating sugar palm fibre enhances the stiffness of silicone rubber, offering a greener alternative to synthetic composite materials. These new biocomposite findings could contribute to the development of more environmentally-friendly materials for various applications.