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Studying the effect of fiber size and fiber loading on the mechanical properties of hybridized kenaf/PALF-reinforced HDPE composite


Citation

Aji, Isuwa Suleiman and Zainudin, Edi Syams and Abdan, Khalina and Salit, Mohd Sapuan and Mohd Dahlan, Khairul Zaman (2011) Studying the effect of fiber size and fiber loading on the mechanical properties of hybridized kenaf/PALF-reinforced HDPE composite. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 30 (6). pp. 546-553. ISSN 0731-6844; ESSN: 1530-7964

Abstract

Hybridization, especially where only variant natural lignocelluloses are combined, is fast receiving encouraging attention because it offers a range of properties that may be difficult to obtain with a single kind of reinforcement. In this study, tensile, flexural, and impact properties of hybridized kenaf/PALF-reinforced HDPE composite were studied. Sheets from which tensile, flexural, and impact specimens were cut out were produced from the compression molding of composite pellets and subsequently conditioned in an oven for 21 h at 103°C. The tensile and flexural specimens were tested according to ASTM D638 and ASTM D790 using a 5-kN INSTRON bluehill universal testing machine accordingly. While a notched Izoid impact test was conducted using a 1-J universal pendulum according to ASTM D256. All specimens were prepared at a fiber ratio of 1:1 kenaf:PALF and fiber lengths of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 2 mm; fiber loadings of between 10% and 70% were utilized for the study. About 0.25 mm fiber showed the best tensile and flexural properties with a linear increase in properties up to 60% fiber loading while impact strength showed better property with 0.75 and 2 mm fiber lengths. At 0.25 mm fiber length, tensile strength of 32.24 MPa, flexural strength and modulus of 34.01 MPa and 4114.11 MPa, respectively, were observed at 60% fiber loading. Moduli results of all the composites formulated generally obeyed the ROM. SEM was used to examine the surface of composites produced. Tensile and impact strengths result showed inverse proportionality while flexural strength of the composite generally adhered to the ROM. However, a positive effect was observed in the case of composite’s impact strength in respect of increasing fiber length. Thus, reduction in some mechanical properties of the composite with respect to increasing fiber length is attributed more to fiber entanglement rather than attrition.


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Additional Metadata

Item Type: Article
Divisions: Faculty of Engineering
Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products
DOI Number: https://doi.org/10.1177/0731684411399141
Publisher: Sage Publications
Keywords: Hybridization; Length; Loading; Modulus; Study; Tensile strength
Depositing User: Nabilah Mustapa
Date Deposited: 27 Nov 2015 11:50
Last Modified: 27 Nov 2015 11:52
Altmetrics: http://www.altmetric.com/details.php?domain=psasir.upm.edu.my&doi=10.1177/0731684411399141
URI: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/22930
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