02192naa a2200217 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001910000210006024501400008126000090022152015240023065000150175470000210176970000220179070000190181270000210183170000200185270000220187270000220189477300580191620056212023-05-26       2015    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d1 aSENA NETO, A. R.  aComparative study of 12 pineapple leaf fiber varieties for use asmechanical reinforcement in polymer composites.h[electronic resource]  c2015  aVegetable fiber reinforced polymer composites have enormous potential to replace materials originatedfrom non-renewable resources. For an adequate use of vegetable fibers as reinforcements, however, therelationships between technological properties and chemical, structural and morphological characteris-tics of the fibers must be fully understood. In this work, fibers from 12 different varieties of pineapple(Ananas genus) were characterized on their morphology, structure, chemical composition, mechanicaland thermal properties. The elastic modulus ranged from 37 to 86 GPa, the tensile strength from 629 to1309 MPa, and the onset oxidation temperature from 240 to 272ºC; indicating the potential of using allselected pineapple fibers as reinforcing fillers (depending on the polymer matrix and processing method).Direct correlations were observed between the thermo-mechanical properties of the fibers and theirchemical features, such as holocellulose and cellulose contents, and also the cellulose crystallinity index.The mechanical properties showed an inversely proportional relation with the lignin content and diam-eter of the fiber bundle. These correlations provided indexes for the direct selection and/or for a geneticimprovement program of the Ananas genus for the development of pineapples whose fibers may beadequate as mechanical reinforcement in polymer composite. An example of methodology is presented,aiming to help with materials selection within the group of vegetable fibers used in composites.  aPineapples1 aARAUJO, M. A. M.1 aBARBOZA, R. M. P.1 aFONSECA, A. S.1 aTONOLI, G. H. D.1 aSOUZA, F. V. D.1 aMATTOSO, L. H. C.1 aMARCONCINI, J. M.  tIndustrial Crops and Productsgv. 64, p. 68-78, 2015.