Impact performance of Miscanthus/Novamont Mater-Bi® biocomposites

Biodegradable composite ('biocomposite') test plaques consisting of Miscanthus fibres in a Novamont Mater-Bi(R) matrix were produced and tested in the laboratory. Plaques were also produced and tested that consisted of 100% Mater-Bi(R) to provide a benchmark as to how the addition of Miscanthus fibres affect the impact performance of the Biodegradable POLYMER ('biopolymer'). A design of experiments methodology was employed to impart data as to how processing parameters and material formulation affect the impact performance of the biocomposite. The factors that were varied during the course of the experiment were injection moulding machine screw speed, fibre volume, particle size and injection moulding machine barrel temperature. In comparison with pure Mater-Bi(R), the Miscandius filled polymer exhibited up to 30% higher impact loads. The factors that affect the performance were discovered to be the temperature of the barrel and the rotational speed of the screw. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.