Physico-Mechanical Performance of Hybrid Betel Nut (Areca catechu) Short Fiber/Seaweed Polypropylene Composite

Abstract

The objective of this research was to investigate the mechanical performance (tensile, bending, and impact properties) of polypropylene (PP) composites filled with betel nut (Areca catechu) short fiber (Bn) at different compositions (3, 5, 10, 20, 30wt%), using extruding and hot press moulding technique. Results showed that Bn10:PP90 mixture composite (BnPP) had better performance among the composites prepared. Because of the suitability of seaweed (Sw) as a filler in PP composite, as shown in our previous work, seaweed is subjected to hybridize with betel nut short fiber in PP composite to achieve superior mechanical performance. Water sorption capacity, degradation behavior such as simulating weathering and soil buried test of different composites were also performed.

Keywords:

• betel nut
• seaweed
• hot press moulding
• hybrid composite
• mechanical properties

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

M. Masudul Hassan thanks Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for a Return Fellowship.