Mechanical performance of kenaf fibre reinforced thermoplastic composite

• Main Author: Nur Asilah, Che Aziz
• Format: Undergraduates Project Papers
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
• Online Access: http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/3281/1/CD5503_NUR_ASILAH_CHE_AZIZ.pdf; http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/3281/

Natural fibre is one of the potential candidates to be used with the thermoplastic as a composite. Kenaf fibre was mixed with Polypropylene (PP) in addition of maleic anhydride (MAPP). Kenaf were separated from the outer layer and bast fibre and were cut using crusher. The ash content is removed by sieving and washing the fibre. The fibre is then treated with alkaline treatment using three different concentrations of 5wt%, 10wt% and 15wt% in three different time’s treatments which are 1 hour, 1.5 hour and 2 hour. 10wt% fibre and 1.5 hour of time treatment were chose as an actual value for fibre loading of the composites which were 10wt%, 20wt%, 30wt%, and 40wt%. MAPP was added with weight ratio 1:10 of fibre and finally PP was added to complete the sample. All of the samples were compounded using plastic mixer and palletized using plastic crusher. Samples were then molded by injection molding. An alternative method has been used to find a better solution for fibre treatment by using Ultrasonic for 10wt% fibre and 1.5 hour treatment. Some tests were done to analyze samples such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Melt Flow Index (MFI), water adsorption, density (Pcynometer), and tensile strength (Tensile Test). For feasibility study of alkaline treatment, the results showed that the best value is for 15wt%, 1 hour of alkaline treatmen. For feasibility study of fibre loading, the best composite selected was sample with 40wt% of fibre with tensile strength of 49.1547MPa and for comparison by using Ultrasonic for treatment; it was showed that this alternative method gave a better composite. From the data and supported theories by various authors, it can be concluded that alkaline treatment, fibre loading and treatment method have a significant effect on the composite.