Harakeke (phormium tenax) fibre-waste plastics blend composites processed by screwless extrusion

Most plastic packaging products are discarded after a single use resulting in an abundant supply of waste plastics. Natural fibres are light in weight, abundant and inexpensive. The stiffness and strength of polymers have been shown to improve with the incorporation of natural fibres. Hence, composite materials made of natural fibres and waste plastics would result in the reduction of plastic wastes and the use of fibres from renewable resources. Composite specimens and sheets consisting of fibres from the New Zealand flax plant, phormium tenax or Harakeke as it is known in Maori, and waste plastics have been produced through screwless extrusion followed by injection moulding. The tensile and impact properties of these composites have been determined. The formability of these composites has been assessed through thermoforming. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.