Effect of Agave americana fibers used as reinforcement in the preparation of composites based on recycled PVC

This work deals with the preparation and the study of a new composite obtained from a thermoplastic polymer and a vegetal fiber. The polymer used is a recycled polyvinylchloride (PVC) and the fiber used was extracted from Agave americana, a plant which grows easily under Mediterranean type climates. Prior chemical treatment of the extracted fiber was necessary to modify the surface of the fiber in order to optimize the adhesion between this fiber and the recycled PVC during the preparation of composites from these materials. For this purpose, our investigations led us to attempt various reactions modification of the surface fiber. The method that gave the best results consists of an alkaline treatment followed by a reaction with acetic anhydride. Once completed chemicals treatments of fiber, the material is mixed with the recycled PVC which serves as a matrix to prepare composites at varying rates from 5% to 30% by weight of agave modified fibers. The effects of the incorporation of raw and processed agave fibers on the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of PVC/agave fiber composites were examined and discussed.