Experimental and micromechanical modelling of randomly oriented zalacca fibre/low-density polyethylene composites fabricated by hot-pressing method

Wahyu Purwo Raharjo,Rudy Soenoko,Anindito Purnowidodo,Moch Agus Choiron,Duc Pham

doi:10.1080/23311916.2018.1518966

Wahyu Purwo Raharjo, Rudy Soenoko + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2018.1518966

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Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effect of the volumefraction of zalacca fibres on the tensile strength and modulus of the LDPE-ZF composites both experimentally and analytically. The tensile tests were carried out on the randomly oriented LDPE-ZF composites manufactured by hot-pressing method. Hirsch and Bowyer–Bader’s model was used to predict the tensile strength of the composites where the elastic modulus was determined by using Tsai–Pagano, Manera and Cox–Krenchel’s model.The experimental results of tensile strength and elastic modulus of the composites was close by the Bowyer–Bader and Tsai–Pagano’s model, respectively. It is due to the consideration of fibre length and orientation factor in the Bowyer–Bader’s model and fibre elastic anisotropy in the Tsai–Pagano’s model. This study establishes that the hot press method is applicable for processing LDPE-ZF composites

Highlights

Composite materials have been extensively used in many structural applications because of their high strength and stiffness at low weight and good corrosion resistance and fatigue properties (Beylergil, Tanoğlu, & Aktaş, 2017)
The addition of random oriented zalacca fibre (ZF) to the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) matrix resulted in increased tensile strength and elastic modulus
The tensile strength of LDPE-ZF composites slightly decreased after the fibre loading of 10 wt.% (0.14 volume fraction (Vf)) but showed an increase in the higher Vf

Summary

Introduction

Composite materials have been extensively used in many structural applications because of their high strength and stiffness at low weight and good corrosion resistance and fatigue properties (Beylergil, Tanoğlu, & Aktaş, 2017). Trends in an application of natural fibre composites appear along with the technology development and economic growth due to the scarcity of conventional energy resource such as fossil fuels. The most applicable thermoplastic polymer for household and industry is low-density polyethylene (LDPE) (Ibeh, 2011). The advantages of LDPE are its low density, good mechanical properties, high resistance of acid, base and salt, low cost and recycle ability. LDPE has lower tensile strength and elastic modulus but its fracture strain, hardness and impact strength are higher than high-density polyethylene (HDPE) (Bashford, 1997). There are two main drawbacks of LDPE compared with thermoset polymer, namely low tensile strength and elastic modulus. To strengthen and stiffen it, one of the simple methods is by reinforcing fibres to become composite

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