Mechanical Properties of Polylactic Acid (PLA) Green Composites Reinforced by Kenaf Bast and Core Fibers
S.N. Surip1, W.N.R. Wan Jaafar2, M.A. Tarawneh3, N.N Azmi4
1Siti Norasmah Surip, Department of Bio Composite Technology Programme, Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
2Wan Nur Raihan Wan Jaafar, Department of Bio Composite Technology Programme, Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor Malaysia.
3Mou’ad.A.Tarawneh, Department of Physics, College of Science, Al-Hussein Bin Talal University, Ma’an, Jordan.
4Nur Naziha Azmi, Department of Bio Composite Technology Programme, Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor Malaysia.
Manuscript received on 13 October 2015 | Revised Manuscript received on 22 October 2015 | Manuscript Published on 30 October 2015 | PP: 5-14 | Volume-5 Issue-5, October 2015 | Retrieval Number: E2199105515/15©BEIESP
Open Access | Editorial and Publishing Policies | Cite | Mendeley | Indexing and Abstracting
© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Polylactic acid (PLA) green composites were fabricated using melt compounding and compression moulding. Kenaf bast and core fibres had undergone chemi-mechanical treatment before use. PLA and kenaf fibres were mixed at different fibre loadings (2%, 4% and 6%) and extruded with three different rotation speeds (60, 70 and 80 rpm). The mechanical properties of kenaf bast composites (KBC) and kenaf core composites (KCC) were studied by performing flexural and impact testing. KBC and KCC treated with 1.0M acid treatment at 60 rpm speed had higher flexural and impact strength. KBC at 6% fibre loading had a higher flexural modulus, which was caused by the stiffness of the fibre incorporated in the PLA. However, KBC with 4% fibre loading has higher flexural strength than 6% fibre loading. In contrast, KCC at 2% fibre loading had the highest flexural modulus and strength. Meanwhile, for impact properties, 4% fibre loading had the optimum strength for both KBC and KCC.
Keywords: Kenaf Bast Fibre, Kenaf Core Fibre, Polylactic Acid, Green Composites.
Scope of the Article: Composite Materials