Study of banana fiber as reinforcement of polyethylene samples made by compression and injection molding

Abstract

The use of natural fibers as a reinforcement in polymeric matrixes constitutes an issue of great importance in the plastics industry. Natural fibers are an alternative of synthetic fibers because of their good mechanical properties, low density and production costs, as well as being more easily recyclable. In this paper fiber obtained from banana trees is studied as a high interest material because of its properties. As an innovative idea it has been aroused the analysis of different varieties of banana trees cultivated in Canary Islands (Spain), in order to find if they are likely to be exploited to obtain a high quality fiber, with applications in the plastics industry. So, a brief study of banana crop cycle and typologies of different varieties in Canary Islands is made, followed by their morphologic aspects. The fiber extraction manual process is also defined in this paper; designing and manufacturing a machine for banana trees fiber extraction is one of the objectives of Badana's Project, financed by the 7th Framework in the EU. A number of chemical modifications widely used have been applied to banana fibers; series of polyethylene samples have been manufactured by compression and injection molding, using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as polymeric matrix and a 5% in weight of banana fiber. These samples have been tested in traction trials, founding an increase in tensile strength and elastic modulus ( and E, respectively) due to the content of banana fiber. The results obtained show that banana fibers can be used as reinforcement in thermoplastic matrixes.