Abstract
This research was carried out to study the thermal conductivity (TC) properties of pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) reinforced polypropylene (PP) composites. The pineapple leaf fibre dimensions were altered specifically at the macro, micro and nano dimensional states. It was considered that the thermal conductivity (TC) behavior of pineapple leaf fibre/polypropylene (PALF/PP) composites would be significantly higher when the pineapple leaf fibre which is the reinforcement agent undergoes dimensional changes. The study also considered the effect the fibre surface modification agents would have on the thermal behavior of the reinforced pineapple leaf fibre /polypropylene composites. The fibre surface modification agents used in this study are sodium hydroxide, zinc chloride, acetic anhydride and nitric acid. The guided plate steady state approach for determining thermal conductivity was used in this research. Results showed that the micro and nano fibrils of the reinforcing agent contributed to the enhanced thermal conductivity behavior of the reinforced pineapple leaf fibre/polypropylene composites. The results obtained also showed that the reinforced microfibrils pineapple leaf fibre /polypropylene composites and reinforced nanofibrils pineapple leaf fibre/polypropylene composites modified with nitric acid exhibits higher thermal conductivity than reinforced pineapple leaf fibre/polypropylene (PALF/PP) composites modified with acetic anhydride, zinc chloride, sodium hydroxide and the unmodified pineapple leaf fibre in descending order respectively.
Highlights
Recent studies have brought to limelight an increase in the applications of thermoplastic and thermoset materials as matrix with natural fibres as the reinforcement agents for the production of bio-composites
Programs were written, using the Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) programming languages, which is basically G-CODES, the programs were fed into the CNC machine which served as the series of instructions with which the CNC functioned by taking each code in sequential format till parts of each mold were fabricated to the optimal level of precision
4.1 Figure 5 to Figure 9 show the plots of the thermal conductivity of the reinforced pineapple leaf fibre (PALF)/PP composites, Figure 5 shows the plots of the untreated reinforced pineapple leaf fibre/polypropylene (PALF/PP) composites, Figure 6 shows the plots of the NaOH modified PALF/PP composites, Figure 7 shows the plots of thermal conductivity of the ZnCl modified PALF/PP composites, Figure 8 shows the plots of the reinforced C3H6O3 modified reinforced PALF/PP composites
Summary
Recent studies have brought to limelight an increase in the applications of thermoplastic and thermoset materials as matrix with natural fibres as the reinforcement agents for the production of bio-composites. Products of these reinforced composites have proven to possess better strength, high resistance to fracture, high thermal conductivity and so much more other enhanced mechanical, thermal and chemical properties. It is no news that the natural fibres utilized in this area are mostly by products of agricultural activities which pose as environmentally harmful component of the existing ecosystem. Calls on global leaders and industrial giants to consider the effects of industrial revolution and its direct implication on the environment is forcing industries to consider bio-composites as viable options in the automotive, aviation, packaging and construction sectors just to mention but a few
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
