Common reed as a novel biosource for composite production

Abstract

The production of plastics has grown significantly in the last decades, and the trend is expected to continue, depending mainly on increasing demand from various industries, such as packaging, construction, and consumer goods. Today, researchers are looking for new biobased sources to replace fossil fuel-based plastics. Common reed bed along the coast in Baltic Sea present a sustainable resource that could play a role in the future circular economy, but the potential of reeds as an unused biological This study examines the potential of common reed as a sustainable, novel composite material. Common reeds were harvested both in summer and winter, and various blends were analyzed to determine their suitability for composite applications. The mechanical characterization shows that the integration of common reed fibers into polyethylene matrices has been shown to enhance crucial properties such as tensile strength and yield strength, demonstrating that common reed can be utilized in composite materials, thereby reducing reliance on fossil-based plastics.