Effect of Natural Lignocellulosic Fibers on the Mechanical Properties of the Polypropylene Composites

Abstract: – In the current study different natural fillers like rice husk, wheat husk and wood flour natural fillers were compounded with polypropylene to form composites. The effects of these natural fibres on various mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. Polypropylene composites at various filler loadings were compounded using a twin screw extruder and the test specimens were molded through injection machines.

Keywords: Natural Fillers, Biocomposites, Polypropylene, Melt Compounding

I. INTRODUCTION

The plastic material with features of small specific gravity, high mechanical strength, sound and heat insulation, optimal chemical and electrical isolation, and easy-processing, has been extensively applied in electronic components, motor vehicle parts, textile fabrics, and transportation vehicles. The properties of all basic plastics can be enhanced by the addition of fibers, whiskers and particulate. Plastics so modified are referred to as organic or plastic matrix composites. Today reinforcements include materials such as graphite fibers, boron, glass, organic polymer fibers, silicon carbide, and a number of new inorganic fibers. Plastics will remain the most likely matrix candidates for composites because of the substantial weight savings they offer and of the wide range of properties and the ability to tailor them [1]. Polymer composites materials have been studied for many years and really constitute a very active area for researches in materials science. Among methods used for processing of plastic moulding, the injection moulding has not only the most popular applications in virtue of its advantageous features of high production rate and good precision, mass production for complex objects with same dimensions, low costs of production, and various appropriate materials, but it’s crucial technology includes the control of injection moulding and mold design [2].
Various factors that affect the properties of composites are fiber dispersion, orientation and geometry (aspect ratio) of the fibres within the composites, the fiber volume fraction and the quality of interface between the reinforcing fibers and polymer matrices [3]. A variety of thermoplastic polymers have been investigated as matrices including polystyrene [4-7]. A number of researchers have been reported on natural fibers as fillers or reinforcements in thermoplastic composites, which have successfully proven their applicability to various field. Thermoplastics polystyrene (PS) [8] have been compounded with natural fibers such as wood, kenaf, flax, hemp, cotton, kraft pulp, coir, pineapple leaf, oil palm, sisal, jute, henequen leaf, banana fibers abaca and straw to prepare composites.
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