Effect of Fiber Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Kenaf Fiber-Ecoflex Composites

Title
Effect of Fiber Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Kenaf Fiber-Ecoflex Composites

Author
Nor Azowa Ibrahim
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Malaysia, norazowa@science.upm.edu.my

Kamarul Arifin Hadithon
Laboratory of Bio-Composite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Malaysia

Khalina Abdan
Laboratory of Bio-Composite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Malaysia


Abstract

The composite material based on whole stem kenaf fiber (WSK) and Ecoflex (biodegradable thermoplastic) were prepared by melt blending technique and characterized. The composites were prepared using different fiber loadings and the fiber was treated with various concentrations of NaOH solution by soaking for 3 h. The compounding of composite were carried out at different fiber loadings (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%) using Brabender internal mixer at 130°C for 10 min. The composites were then pressed using compression molding to produce biodegradable kenaf/Ecoflex sheets. The effects of kenaf fiber loading and NaOH treatment of WSK fiber surface on mechanical properties was examined. The results showed that 40% fiber loading improved the tensile strength properties and WSK fiber treated with 4% NaOH was found to enhance tensile and flexural properties compared with untreated fiber. The FTIR characterization showed that alkali treatment removes hemicellulose and lignin from WSK kenaf fiber surface.

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http://jrp.sagepub.com/content/29/14/2192.abstract