Reinforcement of waste hemp fibres in aromatic diamine-based benzoxazine thermosets for the enhancement of mechanical and thermomechanical properties

Natural fibres (NFs) have been successfully reinforced in polymer matrices to strengthen the properties of the polymers. The polybenzoxazine thermosets are facing instable mechanical properties due to the high brittleness, herein, waste hemp fibres (WHF) reinforced polybenzoxazine composites are prepared. Effects of WHF volume % loading on curing, thermomechanical, mechanical, and thermal properties are studied. FTIR results confirmed that WHF rich in -OH groups increased the ring-opening of oxazines and reduced curing temperature. In addition, an increase of 223%, 111%, 64%, and 253% in impact, tensile strength, flexural and Young's modulus, respectively, were recorded after loading optimum concentration (30 vol. %) in composites. Considerable enhancements were also seen in the thermomechanical properties on optimum loading, double stiffness and 26 degrees C increase was recorded in the glass transition temperature. Nonetheless, the decline was observed in thermal stabilities, T-5% and Y-c were 24 degrees C and 1.4 % lower, respectively, than neat poly(P-ddm).