Fiber morphology has a significant effect on the mechanical properties of fiber/polymer composites. The performance of nine types of long wood fibers (initial aspect ratio of >40), two long agricultural fibers (initial aspect ratio of >40), and one short fiber wood flour (initial aspect ratio of = 5—10) are compared. The fibers were compounded in polypropylene in a Brabender mixer and subsequently injection molded. The longer natural fibers (both wood fibers and agricultural fibers) did not provide significant additional reinforcement when compared to the wood flour. The fibers were extracted from the final specimens and measured using a Fiber Quality Analyzer. They were found to be severely degraded by processing, while the wood flour morphology was only slightly modified. The degree of length degradation was found to be dependent on fiber strength.
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