Abstract

Pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) is one of the abundantly available agro-waste materials in Bangladesh. PALF-reinforced low-density polyethylene (LDPE)-based composites were fabricated by compression molding with randomly oriented fiber loading varying 10–60 wt%. In this study the influence of the fiber loading on the mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural and Izod impact was investigated. Water absorption tests of the composites were also carried out for determining water resistance properties of composites. Thermal properties of PALF were analyzed by thermogravimetry and derivative thermogravimetry. Scanning electronic microscopic studies were performed to understand the fiber–matrix adhesion and fiber breakage. To improve the compatibility between fiber and matrix, 50/50 PALF/LDPE composites were irradiated with gamma rays (Co-60) of doses where composites irradiated with 7.5 kGy dose showed the best results. Tensile properties of the composites were found to be improved significantly after gamma irradiation.

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