ARS | Publication request: Preparation of Soybean Oil Based Composites Reinforced with Flax Fiber

Submitted to: United States Japan Natural Resources Protein Panel
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: November 26, 2002
Publication Date: November 29, 2002
Citation: Liu, Z., Erhan, S.Z., Akin, D.E., Barton Ii, F.E. 2002. Preparation of Soybean Oil Based Composites Reinforced with Flax Fiber. United States Japan Natural Resources Protein Panel.

Technical Abstract: In recent years there has been considerable interest in using natural plant fibers as reinforcements for plastics. The motivation includes cost, performance-enhancement, weight-reduction, and environment. High-performance of flax fiber could potentially substitute glass or carbon fibers as reinforcements for plastics. In this report, we studied soybased composites from mixture of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and epoxy resin, 1,1,1-tris(p-hydroxyphenyl)ethane triglycidyl ether (THPE-GE), which are modified with a gelling agent to solidify the materials until curing occurs. The high strength composites are formed through flax fiber reinforcement. The effects of curing agents, ESO/THPE-GE ratio, and fiber loading on mechanical properties of composites are studied and reported.