Heat-treated blue agave fiber composites

To meet consumer demand for low carbon-footprint transportation, automakers have been replacing high-density fillers with low-density natural fibers in polymeric composites. Torrefaction can improve natural fiber composite thermal performance, but leads to significant fiber mass loss. This study sought to balance the benefits and limitations of torrefaction by investigating the effects of low-temperature fiber heat treatment on the performance of 20 wt % agave-polypropylene composites. Heat treatment increased the thermal stability of agave fibers, but resulted in no observable change to composite thermal properties or crystallization kinetics. Additionally, treatment resulted in a reduction in rheological properties, but less than a 10% change in mechanical performance of agave composites.