Effect of Areca and Waste Nylon Fiber Hybridization on the Properties of Recycled Polypropylene Composites

ABSTRACT

Present research investigated the effect of areca and waste nylon fiber hybridization on the properties of areca and waste nylon fiber-reinforced hybrid recycled polypropylene composites. The impact of fiber surface modification was also investigated by the alkali treatment of natural areca fiber. Composites were manufactured using hot press machine by creating an alternative layer of fiber matrix lamellae arrangement at four levels of fiber loading (10, 15, 20, and 25 wt%). Areca and waste nylon fiber ratio were varied at 1:3, 2:3, 3:2, and 3:1 for 20 wt% fiber-loaded composites. Tensile, flexural and hardness tests, scanning electron microscopic, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis were conducted for characterization of the composites. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis of the composites indicated decrease of hemicelluloses and lignin content and corresponding improved mechanical interlocking with alkali treatment of areca fiber. Treated fiber-reinforced composite showed better mechanical properties in comparison with the untreated ones. Tensile test of composites showed a decreasing trend of tensile strength after 10 wt% fiber loading. Whereas Young’s modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, and hardness values were found to be increased with the increase in fiber loading. Only tensile strength value was higher in higher areca fiber-reinforced composite. All other properties were peaked on highest waste nylon fiber-reinforced one. Scanning electron microscopic analysis indicated more uniform distribution of fibers in treated fiber-reinforced composite, while fiber agglomeration increased in higher fiber-loaded composites.

摘要

研究了槟榔和废尼龙纤维混杂对槟榔和废尼龙纤维增强混杂再生聚丙烯复合材料性能的影响. 研究了碱处理对天然槟榔纤维表面改性的影响. 在热压机上通过在四个纤维负载水平（10、15、20和25 wt%）下创建纤维基体片层排列的替代层来制备复合材料. 槟榔纤维与废尼龙纤维的比例分别为1:3、2:3、3:2和3:1. 对复合材料进行了拉伸、弯曲和硬度测试、扫描电镜和傅立叶变换红外光谱分析. 傅立叶变换红外光谱分析表明，槟榔纤维经碱处理后，半纤维素和木质素含量降低，机械交联程度提高. 与未经处理的纤维增强复合材料相比，经处理的纤维增强复合材料具有更好的力学性能. 复合材料拉伸试验表明，纤维含量为10wt%后，复合材料的拉伸强度呈下降趋势. 而杨氏模量、弯曲强度、弯曲模量和硬度值随纤维负载量的增加而增加. 槟榔纤维增强复合材料只有抗拉强度较高. 所有其他性能均在废尼龙纤维增强的最高值上达到峰值. 扫描电镜分析表明，处理后的纤维增强复合材料中纤维分布更加均匀，而纤维含量越高，纤维团聚现象越严重.

KEYWORDS:

• Areca and nylon hybrid fiber
• polypropylene composite
• recycling
• mechanical properties
• FTIR
• SEM

关键词:

• 槟榔与尼龙混杂纤维
• 聚丙烯复合材料
• 回收
• 机械性能
• FTIR
• SEM

Acknowledgement

Authors are grateful to Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology for their technical support during the work.