Title: Effect of chemical treatment on palm fibre reinforced polypropylene composites

Authors: Md. Ershad Ali; Zakia Sultana; Md. Sala Uddin; Md. Shorif Al Mamun; Md. Mominul Haque; Mahbub Hasan

Addresses: Department of Chemistry, Dhaka College, National University, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh ' Department of Pharmacy, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh ' Department of Chemistry, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh ' Wartsila Bangladesh Limited, 110 mw barg mountain power plant, Khulna 9202, Bangladesh ' School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia ' Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh

Abstract: The development of composites using lignocellulosic materials as reinforcing filler and thermoplastic polymers as matrices is currently at the centre of attention because of their low cost, lightweight, eco-friendliness and worldwide environmental awareness. In the present work, palm fibre reinforced polypropylene composites were manufactured using a single screw extruder and an injection moulding machine. Raw palm was chemically treated with benzene diazonium salt in alkali, acidic and neutral media separately to increase the compatibility of palm fibre with polypropylene matrix. Both raw and alkali, acidic and neutral media treated palm at various (15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 wt%) fibre loading were utilised during composite manufacturing. Microstructural analysis and mechanical testing were also conducted. Alkali media treated specimens yielded the best set of mechanical properties. Based on fibre loading, 30% fibre reinforced composites had the optimum set of mechanical properties among all composites manufactured.

Keywords: chemical treatment; palm fibres; fibre reinforced composites; polypropylene composites; mechanical properties; physical properties; lignocellulosic materials; thermoplastic polymers; composite manufacturing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2014.059039

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2014 Vol.48 No.1/2/3/4, pp.3 - 17

Received: 04 Feb 2013
Accepted: 03 Sep 2013
Published online: 30 May 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article