Physical, mechanical and thermal properties of bamboo-kenaf fiber reinforced polylactic acid hybrid composites

The global crisis of plastic pollution has intensified the demand for sustainable alternatives, especially in the furniture industry. While natural fiber-reinforced composites are emerging as eco-friendly solutions, research on biodegradable matrices like polylactic acid (PLA) reinforced with bamboo (BF) and kenaf (KF) fibers remains limited. This study addresses this gap by developing and characterizing three hybrid (30BF-70KF, 50BF-50KF, and 70BF-30KF) and two non-hybrid (BF-PLA and KF-PLA) composites using twin screw extrusion and compression molding techniques. The physical properties (density, void content, crystallinity via XRD, and chemical interactions via FTIR), mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, compressive, impact, and hardness), and thermal properties (Thermogravimetric analysis-TGA and Differential scanning calorimetry-DSC) were thoroughly analysed. Moreover, water absorption, surface wettability and flammability were also analysed. Key findings include that BF reinforcement reduced the composites’ density to 1.1826 g/cm³, while the inclusion of KF increased it to 1.2479 g/cm³. BF50-KF50 hybrid composite achieved the lowest void content (0.27%) and the highest dimensional stability, while the BF-PLA composite exhibited the highest tensile (25.95 MPa) and compressive strengths (173.15 MPa). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed the highest onset degradation temperature (484°C) in the BF30-KF70 composite. BF and KF increased moisture uptake, with BF50-KF50 hybrid composite exhibited the lowest water absorption (0.5 hours: 0.85%, 2 hours: 1.38%) and thickness swelling, indicating optimal dimensional stability. Higher kenaf content correlated with increased biodegradability, with KF-PLA being the most soluble at 7.15%. Water vapor permeability (WVP) analysis revealed that denser composites like KF-PLA have lower WVP (5.121845×10−10 gs−1m−1Pa−1), suitable for moisture-sensitive application. Enhanced hydrophilicity was observed with BF50-KF50 showing the lowest contact angle (61.47°). Flammability tests (UL-94) rated all composites a V-2 rating, and LOI results indicated that BF-PLA and KF-PLA had improved LOI values (21.88% and 21.79%) compared to pure PLA (19.03%). BF50-KF50 achieved an LOI of 21.10%, indicating optimal flame resistance. These results demonstrate the potential of BF-KF/PLA hybrid composites as sustainable materials for eco-friendly furniture application.

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