Biomass carbon ratio of biobased polymer composites filled with cellulose fibers measured by accelerator mass spectrometry

Abstract

Composite samples were made of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and cellulose fillers. Cellulose powders, cotton fibers, and fibers derived from trunks, frond petioles, and an oil palm empty fruit bunch were used as fillers of composite samples. A sheet of the composite was made by hot-pressing the mixture of PBS powders and fillers. Oil palm tree fibers were observed by an optical microscope. Thermal degradations of these fibers were measured by thermogravimetry. The biomass carbon ratio of the starch and wood were described. The biomass carbon ratio of the PBS composites with cellulose fibers was investigated. The mechanical properties of the PBS composites were measured by tensile test using dumbbell specimens. The possibility of an evaluation method of biomass carbon ratio of composite materials was shown.