Hemp Fiber Microstructure and Use of Fungal Defibration to Obtain Fibers for Composite Materials

Abstract

Abstract Characterization of hemp fibers was carried out to investigate the mild defibration with Phlebia radiata Cel 26, a fungus which selectively degraded the epidermis and the lignified middle lamellae. Thin fiber bundles could thereby be produced. The single fiber S2 layer consisted of 1-5 mm thick concentric layers constructed of ca. 100 nm thick lamellae. The microfibril angle showed values of 0-10 for the main part of S2 and 70-90 for SI. The low S2 microfibril angle resulted in fiber bundles with high tensile strength (960 MPa) decreasing to 850 MPa after defibration due to degradation of non cellulosic components. The elastic modulus of the hemp fibers within composites was similar to glass fibers (75 GPa).