Haithem Boumediri

Biocomposites materials reinforced with vegetable fiber are a group of modern materials that have appeared on the market due to the increasing importance of the ecological issue in the design of structures and their use. These new materials from renewable sources and bio-degradable and having high mechanical characteristics can substitute conventional synthetic fibers such as glass fibers. Natural fibers are an excellent alternative because they are readily available in fibrous form. Among the vegetable fibers available in Algeria, we find the branches and leaves of date palms. Algeria has more than 18 million date palms and the branches and leaves of these trees make up a few hundred thousand tons which are usually discarded or burned each year at the time of the date harvest. This constitutes an untapped renewable source. As part of this thesis, it is proposed to study the integration of this type of plant fiber as reinforcement in bio-composite materials for the development of the composites industry. The work focuses on the design and characterization of new fiber and its use as reinforcement in bio-composites. These materials find many applications such as in accessories for motor vehicles, in small boats and Kayaks, in prostheses, etc. The biodegradability of plant fiber can contribute to a healthy ecosystem while their low costs and high performance can fulfill the economic interests of the industrialists.