Physical and flammability properties of kenaf and pineapple leaf fibre hybrid composites

Abstract

Pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) was hybridized with kenaf fibre in order to achieve superior physical and flammability performance. The mixing effects of kenaf fibre and pineapple leaf fibre in phenolic composites are evaluated at various fibre ratios and investigated various physical properties such as density, void content water absorption, thickness swelling and flammability. Pure kenaf fibre composite showed lowest void content, water absorption and thickness swelling while pineapple leaf fibre revealed the opposite trend. After adding pineapple leaf fibre in kenaf composites, it absorbed more moisture and developed more void contents. Density of PALF composite was lower and kenaf fibre composite was highest but PALF/kenaf hybrid composite increased density with higher PALF. The flammability of hybrid composites were analysed by using UL-94 test method. Vertical and horizontal UL-94 test conducted to analyse fire resistance of composites from different angles. Phenolic resin is itself a fire resistant polymer and the percentage of polymer in all samples are fixed though ratios of both fibres pineapple leaf fibre and kenaf were change to analyse fire resistant of fibres and compatibility with polymers. The 70 % pineapple leaf fibre and 30 % kenaf fibre hybrid composites were very affective to improve the flammability of PALF/KF hybrid composites.