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TEMPO-Mediated Oxidation of Lignocellulosic Fibers from Date Palm Leaves: Effect of the Oxidation on the Processing by RTM Process and Properties of Epoxy Based Composites

To increase in value the agricultural waste products of the date palm tree -phoenix dactylifera l-, especially the fibers from the leaflets, their use as filler in polyepoxide matrix (dgeba / ipd) was investigated to prepare new bio-based composites. Our goal in the first part is to study the chemical modification of palm fiber by oxidation mediated by 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (tempo). The kinetic and the topology of the reaction, as well as the characterization of fibres in rough and oxidized state, were also studied. An original kinetic model was proposed taking into account the heterogeneous character of this chemical reaction. The second part was devoted to study the kinetics and rheokinetic of the polymerization of dgeba / ipd with and without modified and unmodified fibers. This enabled to show the effect of the introduction of the date palm tree fibers (oxidized and non oxidized) on the composite formation. The thermal properties of the prepared composites were also investigated in this part of work. In the last part of this work, the mechanical properties of these composites were investigated and enabled to highlight the effect of the fibers oxidation on these properties. In addition, the effect of oxidation on the course of the injection during the rtm process (moulding by transfer of resin) was investigated. A positive effect of the oxidation of the fibers on the course of the injection was obtained and was attributed to the higher wettability of oxidized fibres by the resin., A travers cette thèse, nous avons pu valoriser les rejets agricoles du palmier dattier (Phoenix L. dactylifera) (fibres issues des folioles) par leur introduction comme renfort fibreux dans la préparation des biocomposites à matrice polyépoxyde (DGEBA/IPD). Le but de la première partie de la thèse était l’étude de la modification chimique des fibres de palmier par oxydation au 2,2, 6,6–tétraméthylpipéridine-1-oxyle (TEMPO). Le suivi cinétique et la topologie de la réaction, ainsi que la caractérisation des fibres à l’état brut et à l’état oxydé, ont été aussi étudiés. Un modèle cinétique original a été proposé ensuite rendant compte du caractère hétérogène de cette réaction chimique. La deuxième partie était consacrée à l’étude cinétique et rhéocinétique de la polymérisation du système DGEBA/IPD seul et en présence de fibres brutes et oxydées. Parallèlement, l’étude thermique de la polymérisation du réseau final a été également réalisée. La dernière partie avait comme but l’étude des propriétés mécaniques aux petites et grandes déformations de ces composites et mettre en évidence l’effet de l’oxydation des fibres sur ces propriétés. D’autre part, le suivi de mise en forme par RTM (moulage par transfert de résine) a montré un effet positif de l’oxydation sur le déroulement de l’injection. Une meilleure mouillabilité du mat des fibres oxydées par la résine est à l’origine de l’amélioration du procédé.

International audience; Short date palm tree lignocellulosic fibers were used as a reinforcing phase in a polyepoxy thermoset commodity resin. Unmodified fibers as well as counterparts chemically oxidized using TEMPO catalyst mediation were used as fillers for composite materials prepared in a Resin Transfer Molding process. The preparation was facilitated in the case of the composites based on oxidized fibers. During the process, the front displacement of injected resin was more regular, more homogeneous, and faster in the case of oxidized fibers. The morphology, thermal and mechanical properties of the resultant composites were characterized by SEM, DSC, DMA, as well as three-point bending and Charpy impact tests. An elevated reinforcing capability of the oxidized fibers as compared to their unmodified counterparts was demonstrated, particularly by a high strain test in the glassy state. This confirmed the enhanced filler/matrix interface observed in such materials during the process and in the final composite as analyzed by SEM. No significant difference in reinforcing capability of the two kinds of filler was observed in the DMA analysis.

International audience

International audience