Semichemical fibres of Leucaena collinsii reinforced polypropylene composites: Young's modulus analysis and fibre diameter effect on the stiffness

Abstract Leucaena genus offers environmental benefits related with soil recovering. The use of natural fibres as reinforcement in composites materials is a current technology for strengthening and stiffening polymeric materials. Besides, some authors suggest the idea that the diameter has a strong influence on the material stiffness. The material's stiffness is one of the most important design parameters. This work studies the Leucaena collinsii influence on the polypropylene composite materials stiffness. A tensile test was performed for measuring the Young's moduli from composite materials reinforced with 20–50% of fibre. Furthermore, the diameter influence on that property has been studied through modelling. The mechanical results show a high L. collinsii stiffness contribution, increasing its stiffness a 400%. The fibre intrinsic Young modulus was located in the high range of natural fibre's intrinsic Young's modulus. The fibre diameter rendered little influence on the fibre intrinsic stiffness.