Potentiality of Pineapple Leaf Fibre as Reinforcement in PALF-Polyester Composite: Surface Modification and Mechanical Performance

Abstract

This paper is an attempt to examine the commercial signficance of an agro-waste “Pineapple Leaf Fibre” (PALF) which is rich in cellulose, relatively inexpensive and has the potential for polymer reinforcement. The quality enhancement of PALF has been tried through different surface modifications like dewaxing, alkali treatment, cyanoethylation and grafting of AN onto dewaxed PALF. The present study investigated the mechanical propeties like tensile, flexural and impact behavior of PALF-reinforced polyester composites as a function of fibre loading and fibre surface modification. The mechanical properties are optimum at a fibre loading of 30 wt%. Among all modifications, 10% AN grafted PALF composite exhibited maximum tensile strength (48.36 MPa) whereas cyanoethylated PALF composite exhibited better flexural and impact strength, i.e., 41% and 27% more than the control (detergent washed composite) respectively. Scanning electron microscopic studies were carried out to understand the fibre-matrix adhesion.

Keywords

PALF-polyester composite surface modification AN-grafting mechanical properties

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Y. Termonia , J. Mater. Sci., 25, 4644 (1990).

2. S. B. Biner , Mater. Sci. Eng., A/56, 21 (1992).

3. M. J. Folkes , Short Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites, Wiley, New York, 1982.

4. L. E. Nielsen , Mechanical Properties of Polymers and Composites, Vol. 2, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1973.

5. K. C. McLaughlin , J. Mater. Sci., 15, 886 (1980).

6. L. Ibarra and C. Chamorro , J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 43, 1805 (1991).

7. K. Hosting , B. Wulhorst , G. Franzke and P. Offermann , Sample J., 29(1), 7 (1993).

8. S. S. Bhatnagar , G. A. R. Khan and L. C. Verman , Indian Pat., 28, 281 and 28, 427 (1926).

9. N. Chand , S. Sood , K. G. Satyanarayana and P. K. Rohatgi , J. Sci. and Indust. Res., 43, 489 (1984).

10.

10. N. M. White and M. P. Ansell , J. Mat. Sci., 18, 1549-1556 (1982).

11.

11. A. K. Bledzki , S. Reihmane and J. Gassan , J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 59, 1329 (1996).

12.

12. P. S. Mukherjee and K. G. Satyanarayana , J. Mater. Sci., 21, 51 (1986).

13.

13. A. K. Mohanty , S. Parija and M. Misra , J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 60, 931-937 (1996).

14.

14. R. K. Samal , M. Mohanty and B. B. Panda , J. Polym. Mater., 12, 235-240 (1995).

15.

15. S. Dong , S. Sapieha and H. P. Schreiber , Polym. Eng. Sci., 33, 343 (1993).