Preparation of Polymer Composites using Natural Fiber and their Physico-Mechanical Properties

Abstract

Use of natural fiber as reinforcing material is the latest invention of polymer science in order to get higher strength with lower weight composite materials having several applications. In this present investigation banana fiber, a natural fiber, is used as the reinforcing material. Low density polyethylene (LDPE)-banana fiber reinforced composites were prepared using both untreated and bleached (treated) banana fiber and LDPE with 7.5, 15, 22.5 and 30% weight content of fibers by using compression molding technique. Physico-mechanical properties (e.g. tensile strength, flexural strength, elongation at break, Young's modulus) of different types of prepared composites were characterized. From this study it is observed that all these values have augmented up to a definite percentage. The tensile strengths and flexural strengths of the composites increased up to 22.5% fiber addition then started to decrease gradually. Young moduli of the composites increased with the increase of fiber addition. Water absorption also increased with the weight of the fiber. Whereas elongation at break decreased with increasing fiber loading. Mechanical properties of bleached banana fiber-LDPE composites were slightly higher than the untreated banana fiber-LDPE composites. Compared to virgin molded LDPE both tensile and flexural strengths and Young moduli of these LDPE-banana fiber composites were significantly higher. All the variable properties like tensile strength, flexural strength, and water absorption capacity showed a very significant role in these polymer composites.

Keywords: Banana fiber; LDPE; Composite; Tensile strength; Flexural strength

DOI: 10.3329/bjsir.v45i2.5708

Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 45(2), 117-122, 2010