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International Journal of Polymer Science
Volume 2011 (2011), Article ID 841812, 7 pages
doi:10.1155/2011/841812
Mechanical and Thermal Behaviour of Ecofriendly Composites Reinforced by Kenaf and Caroà Fibers
1Institute of Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, National Research Council of Italy, Via Campi Flegrei, 34 80078 Pozzuoli (Na), Italy
2Department of Materials and Production Engineering, University of Napoli “Federico II”, p.le Tecchio, 80 80125 Napoli, Italy
Received 31 March 2011; Accepted 12 May 2011
Academic Editor: Susheel Kalia
Copyright © 2011 P. Persico et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Two kinds of environmental friendly composites were prepared based on sustainable matrices, respectively, defatted cross-linked soy flour and thermoplastic polyhydroxybutyrate cohydroxyvalerate, reinforced by natural fibers from Caroà and Kenaf plants. The obtained composites were compared in terms of moisture tolerance, thermal and mechanical properties, and thermoregulation ability. It was found that this ecofriendly systems have suitable properties for indoor applications in housing and transportation.