Optimization of Mechanical Properties in Natural Hybrid Polymer Composite using Polypropylene (PP), Banana Stem Fiber (BS) and Pineapple Leaf Fiber (PALF)

• Main Author: Sarifuddin, Siti Norakma
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: IRC 2015
• Subjects: TJ Mechanical engineering and machinery
• Online Access: http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/16227/1/Dissertation_SitiNorakma_16932%20%281%29.pdf; http://utpedia.utp.edu.my/16227/

A study was carried out to investigate the optimization of the natural hybrid polymer composite which was made using polypropylene (PP) as matrix and banana stem fiber (BSF) and pineapple leaf fiber (PLF) as a reinforcement. The coupling agent which was Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) was added in the composite to improve the bonds between polymer and natural fiber. This study is was aimed to investigate how two reinforcement in a single matrix will enhance the mechanical properties of the composites. The banana stem fiber was hybridized with pineapple leaf fiber to improve the mechanical properties of the banana stem fiber. Hybrid composites were prepared using banana/pineapple fiber of 100:0, 70:30, 50:50, 30:70, 0:100 ratios while overall weight percentage of the fiber was fixed as 30 wt%. The composite will be tested according to the standard for tensile strength (ASTM D638), flexural strength (ASTM D790) and the morphology of the composite will be studied under the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) machine.