Valorization of Pennisetum setaceum : From Invasive Plant to Fiber Reinforcement of Injected Composites

• Published in: Plants (Basel) Vol. 12; no. 9; p. 1777
• Main Authors: Cabrera-García, Patricia, Marrero, María Dolores, Benítez, Antonio Nizardo, Paz, Rubén
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 26.04.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Acids; Calorimetry; Cellulose; chemical treatment; Composite materials; Differential scanning calorimetry; Extrusion molding; Fiber reinforcement; Fibers; Fourier transforms; High density polyethylenes; Infrared analysis; Infrared spectroscopy; injected composite; Injection; Injection molding; Introduced species; Invasive plants; Invasive species; Investigations; Landfills; Lignin; Manufacturing; Mechanical properties; Modulus of rupture in bending; natural fibers; Nonnative species; Pennisetum setaceum; Polyethylene; Polyethylenes; Polymers; Shear strength; Silanes; Sustainability management; Tensile strength; Thermal degradation; Thermogravimetric analysis; Waste disposal sites; waste valorization; chemical treatment; waste valorization; natural fibers; Pennisetum setaceum; injected composite; invasive species
• ISSN: 2223-7747; 2223-7747
• DOI: 10.3390/plants12091777

During the control campaigns of (invasive species widespread worldwide), the generated waste has accumulated in landfills. This study investigates its use to obtain fibers for their application as reinforcement of polymeric materials for injection molding, thus facilitating and promoting alternatives for the long-term sustainable management of . The extracted fibers were treated with alkaline, silane, acetic acid, and combined alkaline and silane treatments. Different composites with 20 and 40 wt% of fiber were extruded, and test samples were obtained by injection molding using recycled polyethylene as matrix. The composition of the fibers was determined by gravimetric methods, and contrasted with the analysis of the functional chemical groups using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Increases of up to 47% in the cellulose content of the treated fiber were observed. The thermal degradation was also evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis, which determined an increase in the degradation temperature, from 194 to 230 °C, after the combined alkaline-silane treatment. In order to analyze the differences in the composites, tensile, flexural, and impact properties were evaluated; in addition, differential scanning calorimetry was performed. Regarding the flexural behavior, it was possible to improve the flexural modulus up to 276% compared with that of the unreinforced polymer.