Properties of Poly(3-hydroxybutyric acid) Composites with Flax Fibres Modified by Plasticiser Absorption
Natural fibre-biopolymer composites have been preparred from flax and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). The flax was modified by drying, followed by plasticiser absorption to replace the water lost to prevent embrittlement. This protects the fibres from problems associated with their water content and changes in water content due to equilibration with the environment. Flax and PHB showed good interfacial adhesion, which was decreased when plasticisers were present. Some plasticiser migrated from the flax to PHB and caused complex changes in the glass transition, crystallisation and crystallinity of the PHB. Morphology of the composites was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy (OM), SEM provided information on the interfacial adhesion through fractography. OM showed extensive transcrystallinity along the fibre surfaces. Dynamic mechanical analysis was used to measure elastic and damping characteristics and their relation to composition and morphology.