Coconut Fiber Reinforced Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Composit

Soo, Fang Rong (2015) Coconut Fiber Reinforced Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Composit. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.

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Abstract

During the last few decades, in order to full fill demand of industry, polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) have been of well develop in the industry. This is because of their combination properties more superiors than individual properties of component. Utilizing natural fibres as reinforcement in polymer composite for making low cost and useful application construction materials was increasing drastically. Natural fibres were used in a variety of application as class of structural material because of their many advantages such as abundance, high specific strength, low cost, low density and being an environmental friendly, unlimited and sustainable availability, degradable, and renewable material. In this project, coconut fibres were used as reinforcement in low-density polyethylene. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanical properties of coconut fibres reinforced with low-density polyethylene. The mechanical properties of the composites, such as tensile strength, modulus, elongation at break and hardness were investigated. In this project, alkali treated coconut fibre reinforcement in LDPE showed higher tensile strength and modulus when compared to untreated coconut fibres reinforced low-density polyethylene. This is because of the incompatibility between fiber and polymer. Therefore, chemical modification was done on fiber surface to improve the interaction between the fiber and the polymer matrix. Better mechanical and morphological performance were found in simultaneous alkaline and ultrasound treated fiber reinforced polymer composites. This might due to the better dispersion of fibers in the polymer matrix that resulted in polymer composites with better because simultaneous alkaline and ultrasound treatment can make the composites become more homogenous and increase the mechanical properties.