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Single-Plant Biocomposite from Ricinus Communis: Preparation, Properties and Environmental Performance

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Abstract

A single-plant biobased composite material was prepared from fibre and matrix constituents produced from the castor plant, ricinus communis. It is shown that the mechanical properties of the castor plant fibres are comparable to those of other bast fibres and that the stiffness and strength characteristics of the castor fibre/polyamide 11 biocomposite compare well with those of other natural fibre composites. By using a biobased thermoplastic matrix material the reliance on non-renewable feedstock sources is reduced and end-of-lifetime recyclability is improved. The analysis of the environmental performance of the new castor plant composite suggests that the biobased material has great potential as a sustainable alternative replacing glass fibre-reinforced plastics.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support from the Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Composite Structures and Airbus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Composite Structures Australia Pty Ltd, Eagle Farm, QLD, 4009, Australia

    M. T. Heitzmann

  2. School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia

    M. Veidt, M. Hou, R. Truss & C. K. Liew

  3. School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia

    C. T. Ng

  4. Materials and Processes, Airbus, 28000, Bremen, Germany

    B. Lindenberger

Authors
  1. M. T. Heitzmann
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  2. M. Veidt
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  3. C. T. Ng
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  4. B. Lindenberger
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  5. M. Hou
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  6. R. Truss
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  7. C. K. Liew
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Correspondence to M. Veidt.

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Heitzmann, M.T., Veidt, M., Ng, C.T. et al. Single-Plant Biocomposite from Ricinus Communis: Preparation, Properties and Environmental Performance. J Polym Environ 21, 366–374 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-012-0517-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-012-0517-3

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