Development of eco‐friendly bio‐composite by reinforcing pineapple fruit waste crown fiber to ethylene‐propylene rubber modified polyethylene

Abstract

AbstractCurrent study discovers society's pineapple waste management issue a new approach. The pineapple crown fiber (PACF) has been used as reinforcement into a maleic anhydride (MAH) grafted ethylene‐propylene rubber (EPR) modified low‐density polyethylene (LDPE). The PACF reinforced composites with 10 wt% EPR content showed much better mechanical properties than the tensile and flexural properties demonstrated by the composites consisting of only PACF and LDPE only. The highest tensile strength (~29 MPa) and modulus of elasticity (~851 MPa) were obtained for the composite consisting of 30 wt% of PACF in the base matrix. Similarly, the highest flexural strength (~27 MPa) and modulus (~1814 MPa) were recorded for the same composition. Attenuated total reflection‐infrared spectroscopy confirmed a new bond between PACF and base matrix, establishing good compatibility between PACF and base matrix. The morphological analysis gives an insight of the microstructure and fracture behavior of the composites, which confirms an excellent wetting of the fibers by the base matrix. Thermogravimetry of the composites showed the increment in the PACF content decreased the thermal degradation temperature of the composites. DMA and differential scanning calorimetry demonstrated an increment into the storage modulus and crystallization temperature of all the composites compared to pristine LDPE.