Effect of Chemical Treatment on Thermal, Mechanical and Degradation Behavior of Banana Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

ABSTRACT

The current research endeavor, explores the thermal, mechanical, and degradation behavior of alkaline treated banana fibers reinforced polypropylene composites. Composites incorporating BF (20% w: w) treated with NaOH (5% w: v) aqueous solution were developed using extrusion-injection molding processes. After chemical treatment, the tensile, flexural and impact strength of the composite increases by 3.8%, 5.17%, and 11.50%, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations of tested specimens confirm the fiber pull out and fiber fracture as the main reasons for failure of developed composites under tensile and impact loading. The specimens were exposed to two different environments, water immersion and soil burial for 5 weeks for the degradation studies. The degradation behavior of composites was measured in terms of variation in weight and mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, and impact). The maximum degradation in mechanical properties was observed for the composites buried under soil. The composite lost 7.69%, 12.06%, and 3.27% of tensile, flexural, and impact strength, respectively.

摨要

本文研究了碱处理香蕉纤维（BF）增强聚丙烯（PP）复合材料的热性能、力学性能和降解性能。采用挤压注射成型工艺制备了含有(20%w:w)的香蕉纤维(NaOH(5%w:v)水溶液的复合材料。经化学处理后，复合材料的拉伸、弯曲和冲击强度分别提高了3.8%、5.17%和11.50%。扫描电子显微镜(SEM) 观察证实纤维拔出和纤维断裂是拉伸和冲击载荷下复合材料失效的主要原因。将样品置于浸水和土壤埋藏两种不同的环境下进行5周的降解研究。复合材料的降解行为以重量和力学性能（拉伸、弯曲和冲击）的变化来测量。在土壤中埋藏的复合材料力学性能的降低最大。复合材料的拉伸强度、弯曲强度和冲击强度分别损失7.69%、12.06%和3.27%。

KEYWORDS:

• Composites
• chemical treatment
• banana fiber
• water immersion
• soil burial
• degradation

关键词:

• 复合材料
• 化学处理
• 香蕉纤维
• 浸水
• 土葬
• 降解

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ujendra Kumar Komal

Ujendra Kumar Komal completed his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Government Engineering College Raipur in 2011. He completed his Masters of Technology from National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli in 2014. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee. He has published 18 research papers in journals and conferences. He has contributed 5 chapters’ in different books published by internationally renowned publishers. His current research focuses in the area of conceptualization, processing, characterization and degradation of partially and fully bio-degradable green composites.