Kenaf Bast Fiber Bundle–Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composites. I: Processing Techniques for High Kenaf Fiber Loading

Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites are generally lower in mechanical performance compared to synthetic fiber reinforced polymer composites. However, this disadvantage can be improved via chemical modification of the natural fiber and hybridization with synthetic fiber. In this study, kenaf bast fiber was used as reinforcement in unsaturated polyester composites. It was subjected to chemical modification with maleic anhydride at various treatment time i.e. 60, 90 and 120 minutes prior to composites production. The untreated and MA treated kenaf bast fiber were hybridized with 10 weight percent of glass fiber to produce kenaf bast/glass fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. The effect of treatment time on weight percent gain and functional group changes via infra-red spectra of kenaf bast fiber were investigated. The effect of treatment time on tensile properties of kenaf bast fiber and kenaf bast/glass fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composites were also studied. It was revealed that the weight percent gain of kenaf bast fiber increased with the increasing of treatment time. The increasing of treatment time resulted in the enhancement of tensile strength and modulus of kenaf bast fiber and kenaf bast/glass fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composites which were attributed to the presence of C=C bonds of maleic anhydride and has been proven through fourier transform infrared spectrum.

Download Full-text

Kenaf Bast-Unsaturated Polyester Composite: The Effect of Different Alkaline Treatment Condition on Tensile Properties

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.594-595.644 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 594-595 ◽

pp. 644-647

Author(s):

Abdul Rahman Rozyanty ◽

M.Y. Nur Firdaus ◽

Luqman Musa

Keyword(s):

Unsaturated Polyester ◽

Alkaline Treatment ◽

Kenaf Fiber ◽

Bast Fiber ◽

The Matrix ◽

Polyester Composite ◽

Electron Microscope Analysis ◽

Kenaf Bast ◽

Kenaf Bast Fiber ◽

Composite Properties

The biocomposites were prepared by using kenaf bast fiber mat as reinforcing materials at different percentage. The kenaf bast fiber was treated with alkaline at different sodium hydroxide (NaOH) percentage. Composites which were made from treated alkaline kenaf treated bast fiber showed better mechanical properties (tensile) than those of the unmodified. Scanning electron microscope analysis showed the evidence of the enhancement of the compatibility between kenaf bast fiber and the matrix. The percentage of kenaf fiber in composites also plays a crucial role in determining the composite properties.

Download Full-text

Transverse and Longitudinal Flexural Properties of Untreated and Maleic Anhydride Treated Kenaf Bast Fiber Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composites

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.700.93 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 700 ◽

pp. 93-101

Author(s):

S.F. Zhafer ◽

A.R. Rozyanty ◽

S.B.S. Shahnaz ◽

Luqman Musa ◽

A. Zuliahani

Keyword(s):

Maleic Anhydride ◽

Flexural Strength ◽

Unsaturated Polyester ◽

Flexural Properties ◽

Bast Fiber ◽

Bast Fibers ◽

Polyester Composites ◽

Kenaf Bast Fibers ◽

Kenaf Bast ◽

Kenaf Bast Fiber

Kenaf bast fibers were prepared into two types as untreated and maleic anhydride (MA) treated. Unsaturated polyester (UPE) resin was used as matrix and applied onto the kenaf bast fibers using hand lay-up method. Transverse and longitudinal flexural properties of unidirectional long kenaf bast fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composites were performed and the effect of fiber modification and loading were studied. It is found that the transverse flexural strength of both types of composites decreases with the increasing of kenaf loading. Contrary, longitudinal flexural strength of both composites increases with the increasing of kenaf loading. Improved transverse and longitudinal flexural properties are shown by MA treatment of kenaf bast fiber. The interactions between fiber and matrix of fractured flexural surface were also observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Download Full-text

The Effect of Different Alkaline Treatment Condition on Flexural Properties of Kenaf Bast-Unsaturated Polyester Composite

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.795.631 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 795 ◽

pp. 631-634 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A.R. Rozyanty ◽

M.Y. Nur Firdaus ◽

M.A.A. Mohd Salleh ◽

L. Musa

Keyword(s):

Treatment Condition ◽

Unsaturated Polyester ◽

Alkaline Treatment ◽

Flexural Properties ◽

Kenaf Fiber ◽

Bast Fiber ◽

Polyester Composite ◽

Kenaf Bast ◽

Kenaf Bast Fiber ◽

Composite Properties

The biocomposites were prepared by using kenaf bast fiber mat as reinforcing materials at different percentage. The kenaf bast fiber was treated with alkaline at different sodium hydroxide (NaOH) percentage. From the results obtained, surface morphology of the treated kenaf bast fiber shows less impurity than untreated kenaf bast fiber. As for composites prepared from alkaline treated kenaf bast fiber, it showed higher mechanical properties as compared to those prepared from untreated kenaf bast fiber. The percentage of kenaf fiber in composites also plays a crucial role in determining the composite properties.

Download Full-text

Kenaf-Unsaturated Polyester Composite: The Effect of Different Retting Process of Kenaf Bast Fiber on the Mechanical Properties

Materials Science Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.819.256 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 819 ◽

pp. 256-261 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Abdul Rahman Rozyanty ◽

M.Y. Nur Firdaus ◽

T.Z. Liew ◽

Nur Farhana M. Yunus

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Interfacial Adhesion ◽

Mechanical Test ◽

Unsaturated Polyester ◽

Fiber Breakage ◽

Bast Fiber ◽

Fiber Loading ◽

Polyester Composite ◽

Kenaf Bast ◽

Kenaf Bast Fiber

Kenaf bast fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composite was produced using kenaf bast fiber based on different retting process. There are two different retting method involved which are water and mechanical retting process. The composites were prepared by using hand lay-up method with different fiber loading (weight %) of 10, 15 and 20%. The mechanical test involved was tensile test and scanning electron microscope (SEM) was employed to investigate the fiber-matrix adhesion and fiber breakage. The result showed that the tensile properties of the composite increased as the fiber loading increased. Besides, the water-retted kenaf –UPE composites exhibited the highest mechanical properties as compared to mechanical-retted kenaf –UPE composites. While, the morphology analysis using SEM showed that water retted kenaf-UPE composite show better fiber distribution and better interfacial adhesion compared to mechanical retted kenaf-UPE composite.

Download Full-text