Obtention and characterization of polypropylene composites reinforced with new natural fibers from Yucca aloifolia L.

Abstract The use of fibers chemically extracted from the leaves of Yucca aloifolia L. as reinforcement in polymeric matrix composites of polypropylene was investigated. The fibers were extracted by mercerization by varying the temperature, time, and NaOH concentration to obtain fibers with a balanced relationship between mechanical, chemical, thermal, and morphological properties that promote their use in polymer matrix composites. The fibers were characterized by tensile testing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, chemical composition, and thermogravimetric analysis. The analyses indicate an excellent potential for their application as reinforcement in polymer matrix composites. Statistical analysis indicates that all treatment factors used in this work (temperature, time, and NaOH concentration) are influential in the mechanical, morphological, chemical, and thermal characteristics of the fibers. Composites were prepared using a polypropylene matrix with 10%, 20%, and 30% of chemically extracted Y. aloifolia L. fibers and characterized by tensile tests, Izod impact tests, and SEM. The mechanical characterization of the composites revealed excellent results for yield strength and Young's modulus, corroborating the potential use of Y. aloifolia L. fibers as reinforcement of the polymeric matrix.