Coir Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites: Physical and Mechanical Properties

Abstract

Coir fiber reinforced polypropylene composites were manufactured using a single extruder and an injection molding machine. Raw coir was chemically treated with benzene diazonium salt to increase its compatibility with the polypropylene matrix. Both raw and treated coir fiber was utilized and five levels of fiber loading (15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 wt%) were used during composite manufacturing. Microstructural analysis (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy) and mechanical (tensile, flexural, impact, hardness and water absorption) tests were conducted. Chemically treated coir fiber reinforced specimens yielded better mechanical properties compared to the raw ones. For the fiber loaded samples, 30% fiber reinforced composites had the optimum set of mechanical properties. Authors propose that the bonding between the polypropylene matrix and chemically treated coir fiber must be increased in order to have improved mechanical properties at higher fiber content.