| abstract |
The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of non-woven short or long lignocellulosic fiber thermoset based composites, in which the process consists of forming natural fiber mats in a perforated screen, further impregnation of the lignocellulosic fibers by circulating the thermoset solution and applying vacuum pressure to drain the excess solution, further drying the prepreg mat at a temperature range of 30 to 100 degree centigrade for 0.5 to 48 hours, further compression molding under pressure of 10 to 50 tones and a temperature range of 50 to 240 degree centigrade for 1 to 30 minutes and cooling the mold to less than 60 degree centigrade under the same pressure into composite products. The said composites have a flexural strength of 94 MPa and a flexural modulus of 14 GPa. The invention also relates to the use of the said composites in cosmetic, semi-structural and structural applications. |