ABSTRACT: Mechanical properties of nonwoven alfa fiber based reinforced biocomposite were evaluated to assess thepossibility of using it as a new material in engineering applications such as orthopedic application. Samples werefabricated by needle punching, thermal bonding and Hydroentanglement, by blending alfa fibers with wool fibers orPolypropylene fibers. The mechanical properties were tested and showed that the nonwoven NW3 (alfa fiber/PP/PLA,with hydroentanglement) is the best. It has a value of stress at break of 1.94 MPa, a strain of 54.2% and a young'smodule of 7.95 MPa, in a production normal direction. A biocomposite has been made with NW3 mixed withPMMA matrix. The use of nonwoven based alfa fiber in reinforcing the composite material increases its rigidity andthe tensile strength; the elongation was found to be 1.53%, the Young's Module of 1.79 GPa and the tensile at break of15.06 MPa. Results indicated that alfa fibres are of interest for low-cost engineering applications and can compete withglass fibres in orthopedic application.

Keywords: Alfa fiber, Biocomposite, Nonwoven, Needle punching, Mechanical proprieties