Abstract
Polypropylene reinforced with indigenous sisal plant fibre composites were made and characterized. Raw and alkali treated short sisal fibre of 5 mm were used. The chemical and physical properties of sisal fibre were characterized. Injection moulding of composites test samples were made using plunger type CR Clarke 911 thermoforming centre. Tensile and flexural properties of these composites were studied using a tensile tester. Morphological structure was studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Thermal analyses (DSC and TGA) of sisal fibre indicate that alkali treatment improves its thermal stability. Also alkali treatment of sisal fibre results significant weight loss of 12.5 % due to partial dissolution of surface extractive, hemicellulose, and pectin fractions which might have implications to increase density and stiffness of the treated sisal fibre. SEM microstructure of fractured composites shows plastic deformation and shear yielding surfaces, indicating good matrix-fibre wetting and ductile failure as well. Alkali surface treated sisal fibre / PP composites show tremendous improvements in performance properties as fibre mass fractions increased in comparison to similar mass fraction levels of untreated sisal fibre / PP composites.
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