Kenaf-fiber-reinforced resin composition

• US 20060147695A1
• Filed: 01/09/2004
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Iji, Masatoshi, Inoue, Kazuhiko, Serizawa, Shin
• Granted Patent: US 7,445,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/297.400
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2300/16 Biodegradable polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2367/04 Polyesters derived from hydroxy carboxylic acids, e.g. lactones C08J2367/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 5/045 with vegetable or animal fibrous material
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 101/16 the macromolecular compounds being biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2201/06 Biodegradable
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/26 Natural polymers, natural resins or derivatives thereof according to C08L1/00 - C08L5/00, C08L89/00, C08L93/00, C08L97/00 or C08L99/00
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 67/04 Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids, e.g. lactones C08L67/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24994 Fiber embedded in or on the surface of a polymeric matrix
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/26 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a fiber-reinforced resin composition suitable for producing molded articles for products such as electrical and electronic equipment. The object has been achieved by a biodegradable resin composition containing a kenaf fiber, which contains a kenaf fiber in an amount of 10 to 50% by mass. In this case, the biodegradable resin is preferably a crystalline thermoplastic resin, particularly polylactic acid. The average fiber length (number average fiber length of the fibers excluding fragments) of the kenaf fiber is preferably 100 μm to 20 mm, and the kenaf fiber preferably contains a kenaf fiber having a fiber length of 300 μm to 20 mm. As the kenaf fiber, a fiber prepared from bast of kenaf is preferred.

Claims

1. A kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition, characterized in that the composition is a biodegradable resin composition containing a kenaf fiber and contains the kenaf fiber in an amount of 10 to 50% by mass.

2. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the content of the kenaf fiber is 15 to 40% by mass.

3. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the biodegradable resin is a crystalline thermoplastic resin.

4. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the biodegradable resin is polylactic acid.

5. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the kenaf fiber has an average fiber length (number average fiber length of the fibers excluding fragments) of 100 μ

m to 20 mm.

6. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 5, characterized in that the kenaf fiber contains a kenaf fiber having a fiber length of 300 μ

m to 20 mm.

7. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 1, characterized in that the kenaf fiber is prepared from bast of kenaf.

8. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the biodegradable resin is a crystalline thermoplastic resin.

9. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the biodegradable resin is polylactic acid.

10. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 3, characterized in that the biodegradable resin is polylactic acid.

11. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the kenaf fiber has an average fiber length (number average fiber length of the fibers excluding fragments) of 100 μ

m to 20 mm.

12. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 3, characterized in that the kenaf fiber has an average fiber length (number average fiber length of the fibers excluding fragments) of 100 μ

m to 20 mm.

13. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 4, characterized in that the kenaf fiber has an average fiber length (number average fiber length of the fibers excluding fragments) of 100 μ

m to 20 mm.

14. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 2, characterized in that the kenaf fiber is prepared from bast of kenaf.

15. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 3, characterized in that the kenaf fiber is prepared from bast of kenaf.

16. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 4, characterized in that the kenaf fiber is prepared from bast of kenaf.

17. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 5, characterized in that the kenaf fiber is prepared from bast of kenaf.

18. The kenaf fiber-reinforced resin composition according to claim 6, characterized in that the kenaf fiber is prepared from bast of kenaf.