Performance trends and deteriorations of lignocellulosic grape fiber/polyethylene biocomposites under harsh environment for enhanced sustainable bio-materials

This work aimed to make novel lignocellulosic based composites utilizing lignocellulosic grape fiber waste with polyethylene matrix for the first time. The purpose was also extended to systematically investigate their mechanical performance trends and deteriorations under harsh environments that include the presence of wet conditions, alkaline and sulfate ash chemicals. This work was also capable of determining the most appropriate and optimized reinforcing conditions of such novel composites to evidently demonstrate their failure trends under various circumstances. Effects of treatments on the overall mechanical performance trends and deteriorations were revealed. Results have demonstrated the efficiency of utilizing the lignocellulosic grape fibers in bio-composites. The tensile strength property was dramatically enhanced for various dry and treated composites. The best strengths were achieved by the 30 wt% dry fiber case and the 20 wt% water soaked one. The modulus of elasticity for the oil-soaked fibers increased with fiber content. Its maximum was at 40 wt % fiber content with a value of 292.06 MPa. Break property on the other hand, favored dry fibers. Morphological characteristics of the prepared lignocellulosic grape fiber/polyethylene composites were clarified using a scanning electron microscope.