DESARROLLO DE COMPOSITES A PARTIR DE RESIDUOS AGROINDUSTRIALES POTENCIALMENTE EMPLEADOS EN TRANSPORTE MASIVO . Agro-industrial residue composites for potential transport application

One of the most important challenges for rail transportation is the reduction of energy consumption using low density materials. Some of these materials are expensive or have distribution problems. However, composites reinforced with natural fibers can be an alternative, because they offer an interesting combination between low density and cost. In spite of this, drawbacks of natural composites as flame resistance or mechanical behavior could affect their potential use in this application. In this work, the potential application in rail transportation elements of composites reinforced with fiber bundles isolated from plantain residues have been analyzed. The mechanical behavior of natural composites has been improved using a steam explosion as fiber bundle treatment. The results obtained suggest that treated composite materials can be an alternative material to develop rail transport elements.