Abstract
With the aid of Injection Moulding Machine (IMM) Palm fiber reinforced Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) composites (PF-ABS) were prepared. Three sets of samples were prepared for three different wt% (5%, 10% and 20%) of fiber contents. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) experiments were performed to study the surface morphology, microstructure (if it crystalline or noncrystalline) and new bond formation after preparation of the composites. SEM pattern shows that after addition of palm fiber in PF-ABS composites the brittleness increased due to creation of voids in the composites except 10% fiber content in PF-ABS. From XRD pattern it is clear that the palm fiber, ABS and PF-ABS composites are amorphous in nature. Moreover FTIR spectrum shows that there is no new bond formed after addition of palm fiber in ABS polymeric matrix to create PF-ABS composites.
Highlights
The use of natural plant fibres as reinforcement in polymer composites for making low cost engineering materials has generated much interest in recent years
Composites made of palm fibers have moderate tensile and flexural properties compared with other natural fibers
Study of mechanical and physical properties of palm fiber reinforced Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) (PF-ABS) composites showed that tensile strength (TS) and flexural strength (FS) of the composites decreased with the addition of fiber content in the composites
Summary
The use of natural plant fibres as reinforcement in polymer composites for making low cost engineering materials has generated much interest in recent years. Cellulosic fibers, like palm, henequen, sisal, coir, jute, bamboo, wood, paper in their natural condition, as well as, several waste cellulosic products such as shell flour, wood flour and pulp have been used as reinforcement agents of different thermosetting and thermoplastic resins [4]. Study of mechanical and physical properties of palm fiber reinforced ABS (PF-ABS) composites showed that tensile strength (TS) and flexural strength (FS) of the composites decreased with the addition of fiber content in the composites. On the other hand due to hydrophilic nature of the palm fiber, water absorption ability slightly increased with the increase of fiber content in the PF-ABS composites. In the present study the cause behind the decrement of TS and FS with the addition of fiber content in the PF-ABS composites would be carried out by investigating surface morphology using SEM and characterization of the structure using XRD and FTIR spectroscopy
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