Surfaces and Interfaces in Natural Fibre Reinforced Composites (eBook)

Nicolas Le Moigne (Dr. Ing.) is Associate Professor at IMT Mines Alès. His current research areas include the processing of bio-based polymers and (nano)composites and the characterization of their physical chemical and rheological properties, with emphasis on reinforcement / matrix interactions. Since 2005, he is involved in research projects aiming at studying and improving the selection, physical and chemical treatment, and processing of biomass (lignocellulosic fibres and microalgae) for the development of bio-based polymeric materials in packaging and structural applications.Belkacem Otazaghine (Dr.) is Associate Professor at IMT Mines Alès. He ob-tained his Ph.D. degree in 2003 working on molecular and macromolecular syn-thesis in the field of the controlled radical polymerization of fluorinated mono-mers. His main research projects are in the field of the chemical modification of mineral and organic nanoparticles and natural fibres for the control of composites structure and properties.Stéphane Corn (Dr. Ing.) is Associate Professor at IMT Mines Alès. His research interests relate to the mechanical behaviour of composite materials and especially the assessment of their properties from multiscale numerical modelling. He is also a lecturer in the area of structural dynamics. He is involved in research projects dedicated to the improvement of natural fibre reinforced composites.Hélène Angellier-Coussy (Dr. Ing. HDR) is Associate Professor at the Technical Institute of the University of Montpellier. She is working on the development of sustainable materials for food packaging applications. Her research activities are focused on the formalization of structure/properties relationships in bio(nano)composites, with a particular attention to better understand the impact of the interphase on mass transfer properties. She is particularly involved in projects dealing with the conversion of lignocellulosic agro-residues for the production of eco-efficient fillers.Anne Bergeret (Prof.) holds a Chemical Engineering Diploma and a PhD in Poly-mer and Composite Materials. She worked as expert in glass fibre sizing for com-posite materials at Owens Corning Co. before being involved at IMT Mines Alès. Currently, she manages the Advanced Polymer Materials department at Centre des Matériaux des Mines d’Alès. In the field of polymer composite materials, she has experience in surface treatments of glass and natural fibres and in the improvement of composite performances in severe in-service conditions.

Foreword 6
Contents 8
About the Authors 10
Abbreviations 11
Introduction: Aim and Scope 14
1 Introduction on Natural Fibre Structure: From the Molecular to the Macrostructural Level 15
1.1 Main Biopolymers in Natural Fibres 15
1.1.1 Cellulose Microfibrils as Reinforcing Elements 18
1.1.2 Non-cellulosic Components as Matrix and Encrusting Elements 18
1.2 Cell Walls Microstructure and Plant Cells Organization 19
1.2.1 Building of Cell Walls 19
1.2.2 Cell Walls Morphology and Composition 20
1.2.3 Plant Cells Organization 21
1.3 Surface Properties and Porous Structure of Natural Fibres 23
1.3.1 Surface Physico-Chemistry 23
1.3.2 Surface Chemistry 28
1.3.3 Porous Structure, Specific Surface Area and Roughness 29
References 32
2 Interfaces in Natural Fibre Reinforced Composites: Definitions and Roles 37
2.1 Multiple and Multi-scale Interfaces Systems 37
2.2 Importance and Role of the Fibre/Matrix Interface 41
2.3 Strategies to Control Interfacial Adhesion in Natural Fibre Reinforced Composites 43
2.4 Modifying Natural Fibres and Interfaces in Composites: Opportunities for New Functionalities? 45
References 47
3 Modification of the Interface/Interphase in Natural Fibre Reinforced Composites: Treatments and Processes 49
3.1 Pre-treatments of Natural Fibres 50
3.1.1 Retting Treatments 50
3.1.2 Chemical Treatments 52
3.1.3 Thermal Treatments 55
3.2 Functionalization of Natural Fibres 57
3.2.1 Chemical Functionalization 57
3.2.2 Physical Treatments and Physical–Activated Chemical Functionalization 64
3.2.3 Incorporation of Amphoteric Compatibilizers 67
3.3 Treatment Processes 67
3.3.1 Wet Treatment Processes 68
3.3.2 Dry Treatment Processes 72
3.4 Concluding Remarks 76
References 78
4 Characterization of the Fibre Modifications and Localization of the Functionalization Molecules 85
4.1 Surface Energy Analysis 85
4.1.1 Contact Angle Measurements and Work of Adhesion 85
4.1.2 Inverse Gas Chromatography (IGC) 89
4.1.3 Concluding Remarks: Adhesion and Adherence Phenomena 91
4.2 Microscopic Analysis 91
4.3 Elementary Analysis 93
4.3.1 Elemental Analysis (EA) 93
4.3.2 Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) 95
4.3.3 X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) 96
4.3.4 Energy-Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX) 97
4.3.5 X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) 98
4.3.6 Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) 100
4.4 Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy Analysis 100
4.5 Thermal Analysis 105
4.5.1 Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) 105
4.5.2 Pyrolysis–Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) 106
4.5.3 Pyrolysis Combustion Flow Calorimetry (PCFC) 108
References 108
5 Characterization of the Interface/Interphase in Natural Fibre Based Composites 115
5.1 Microstructural Analysis of the Interphase 115
5.1.1 Microscopic Analysis 115
5.1.2 Nano-mechanical Analysis 119
5.2 Mechanical Characterization of the Interphase 120
5.2.1 Micromechanical Analysis 120
5.2.2 Static Mechanical Analysis 131
5.2.3 Dynamic Mechanical Analysis 134
5.3 Thermal Analysis of the Interphase 138
5.3.1 Thermogravimetry Analysis 139
5.3.2 Differential Scanning Calorimetry 140
5.4 Concluding Remarks 142
References 143
Index 148