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ISSN 2063-5346
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Strength and Microstructural Investigation on Kenaf Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene and Low-Density Polyethylene Composites

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Mohamad Saiful Sulaima, Taharah Edin, Adib Effendi Bunsie, Dayang Siti Hazimmah Ali, Mohd Shahril Osman, Abdul Fattah Ab Razak, Mohd Syafiq Abdullah
» doi: 10.31838/ecb/2023.12.si4.224

Abstract

Recent studies have explored the potential of using polymer and natural resources such as kenaf fiber to create new bio-composite materials with strong mechanical properties. To investigate this further, the hot press has been used for fabrication to create a bio-renewable kenaf fiber plastic composite (KFPC) with a polymer-to-fiber ratio of 30%, 50%, and 70%. Two types of polymer which are Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Polypropylene (PP) were combined with kenaf fiber and bonded with 8% Urea-Formaldehyde to enhance the bonding between the polymer and fiber. The mechanical and morphological properties of these composites were evaluated according to ASTM standards. Results have shown that the Polypropylene/Kenaf fiber composite demonstrated higher tensile and flexural strength compared to LDPE. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis revealed that the composite with a composition of 70% PP and 30% kenaf fiber with 8% UF had the most uniform structure and bonding between the fiber and polymer. These findings suggest that bio-renewable composites have the potential to be used as fabrication materials in various industries. Implementing such materials may help maintain environmental sustainability, and reduce the reliance on non-renewable resources.

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