Contributions of feather fibers and various cellulose fibers to the mechanical properties of polypropylene matrix composites

Polypropylene matrix composites were made with varying compositions of feather fiber (Ff), recycled kraft pulp fiber (Pf), recycled news pulp fiber (Nf), and retted kenaf bast fiber (Kf). The composites were compression molded from multiple plies of non-woven, fabric-like prepreg manufactured with wetlay papermaking equipment. These composites were tested in tension and three-point bend in order to compare the contributions of the different fibers to composite mechanical properties. The contributions of the four different fibers to composite strength were found to be from highest to lowest: Pf > Nf > Ff > Kf. The three cellulose fibers appeared to have similar contributions to composite modulus. The addition of Ff to any composition reduced composite modulus.