The Preparation and Characterization of Esterified Banana Trunk Fibers/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Blend Film

Abstract

Polymer composite using natural fiber as reinforcement material is getting attention due to easy availability and its low cost. In this work, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/fatty acid esterified banana trunk fibers (FAGBTF) of various compositions were produced by a solution casting method. The characteristic properties of PVA/ FAGBTF composite films were examined by Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tensile tests. On the whole, the increase in the amount of BTF in the composite systems improved the thermal properties and decreased percentage degree of swelling as compared to pure PVA.

Keywords:

• Banana trunk fibers
• Composite
• Esterified
• Poly vinyl alcohol

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study is partially funded by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) of Malaysia. The authors are also grateful to the School of Chemical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, the Faculty of Applied Sciences, AIMST University and Advance Materials Research Centre, SIRIM for providing the facilities to carry out this research.