Authors
Sandra M Luz, Paulo MC Ferrão, C Alves, M Freitas, Armand Caldeira-Pires
Publication date
2010/3/10
Journal
Materials Science Forum
Volume
636
Pages
226-232
Publisher
Trans Tech Publications Ltd
Description
This work evaluates the technical performance and environmental impacts, when sugarcane bagasse is applied as reinforcement of polypropylene in a component instead neat polypropylene (PP). To achieve the goals of this study, the tensile and flexural properties and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a function of fiber content were performed. In addition, different end-of-life (EOL) options for natural fiber composites were proposed, including incineration, recycling (with economic reuse) and discharging (landfill). Besides the good mechanical properties, natural fiber composites showed great environmental performance during the entire life cycle, mainly in the cultivation phase, when sugarcane consumes carbon while growing, contributing to global warming decreases. As a conclusion, sugarcane bagasse fibers production results in lower environmental impacts compared to neat PP and the recycling with …
Total citations
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Scholar articles
SM Luz, PMC Ferrão, C Alves, M Freitas… - Materials Science Forum, 2010