Abstract:In this work, cellulose-based composites was prepared by wet forming process, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibers with various aspect ratios were blended for enhancing the mechanical properties of the sheet by the aid of PET fibers inherent strength. The results showed that the aspect ratio of PET-c fiber was 392.16, proximately 10 times that of cellulose fiber, the yield strength of PET-c fiber was the highest, 300.99 MPa among the PET fibers with various aspect ratio. The mechanical properties of the cellulose-based composites containing PET fibers furnish were dramatically improved. When PET-c fibers were applied at 10%, the tensile, tearing and flexural strength of the composites increased by 42.11%, 31.05% and 21.85%, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the paper fracture surface in tensile and folding experiments showed that there were no broken or splitter PET fibers, the PET fibers only were pulled out or in bending state. It indicated that PET fibers could play an effective protective role on cellulose fibers from damage by external force. |