Effects of physical treatment of hemp fibers on fiber structure and biocomposite properties

This article concerning natural cellulose fibers as reinforcement in composite materials in civil engineering. In this paper, the attention is given to industrial hemp specifically to the woody part of hemp plant called hemp hurds. The properties of natural fibers are mainly determined by the chemical and physical composition, such as structure of fibers. The objective of presented research is to characterize raw and physically treated hemp fibers using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy method. These natural fibers were used as filler into biocomposites and MgO-cement was used as alternative binder. Physico — mechanical properties (compressive strength, thermal conductivity, absorbability) of prepared composites were determined.