Effect of Modification Time of Kenaf Bast Fiber with Maleic Anhydride on Tensile Properties of Kenaf-Glass Hybrid Fiber Unsaturated Polyester Composites

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.