The mechanical properties of a composite manufactured from non-fibrous vegetable tissue and PVA

Plant fibres are gaining acceptance as glass fibre replacements in composite manufacture. Currently only long vegetable fibres from plants like hemp and flax are used. However, all plant cells, including those that are not elongated, have the potential to provide reinforcement because each cell is a natural nano-composite reinforced with cellulose microfibrils. These have a high theoretical stiffness and strength. In this paper we conclude that the reinforcing capacity of the microfibrils can be used without having to completely separate them. Fragments of plant cell wall were extracted from a vegetable parenchyma tissue and pressed together with PVA to form a composite sheet. This material had a tensile modulus of 5.4 GPa and strength of 70 MPa. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.