Processing of a bio-sourced material and determination of its properties: compound of recycled polymer reinforced with vegetable stocks from non-food biomass residues

S. Soulama^a,b*, K.E. Atcholi^a, B. Naon^b, A. Almusawi^a, T. Beda^c and S. Gomes^a

^a Institut de Recherche sur le Transport, l’Energie et la Société, Laboratoires IRTES-SeT/M3M

Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbéliard (UTBM), 90010 Belfort Cedex, France ;

^b Laboratoire Groupe d’Etudes et de Recherche en Mécanique, Energétique et Techniques Industrielles (GERME&TI), Université Polytechnique de Bobo-Dioulasso (UPB) 01 BP 1091 Bobo-Dioulasso 01, Burkina Faso ;

^c Département de Physique, Faculté des Sciences, Université de NGaoundéré, BP 424, NGaoundéré, Cameroon.

* Corresponding author: Sagnaba Soulama, IRTES-SeT/UTBM,

90010 Belfort Cedex, France. Phone: +226 70 15 79 33, Fax : +226 20 98 25 77

+33-384-58, Fax: +33-384-58-31-33

Email: soulamas2000@yahoo.fr or sagnaba.soulama@utbm.fr

Accepted 05 August 2014

Abstract

The eco-material and bio-sourced material field has been enjoying a strong growth driven by tougher environmental regulations. The major challenge in this field relates to the replacement of the classical synthetic reinforcements (carbon, glass, kevlar,..) by natural reinforcements. In this approach, this study aims at using biomass residues from ginned cotton and plastics at end-of-life in order to develop streamlined functional structures. A compound of recycled polystyrene reinforced with cotton husks is produced by plastic injection. This study presents the mechanical and physical properties of this material. An Finite Element modelling of the behaviour of this material is developed with a view to optimizing its manufacturing and its properties.  The interest is to develop recyclable materials from polluting biomasses with no market value to minimize their environmental impact while giving them a second life for various applications such as the production of vehicles’ inner fittings, casings of cell phones, computers, photocopiers, etc.

Keywords: Bio-sourced materials, recycled polymers, compound, cotton husks.