Study of the Physical, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Banana Fiber Reinforced HDPE Composites

Budrun Neher,Md Abul Hossain,Rakib Hossain,Farid Ahmed,M A Gafur,Kaniz Fatima

doi:10.4236/msa.2020.114017

Abstract

Natural fiber reinforced composite materials are replacing the conventional materials, owing to their excellent physical, mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. Also they increase biodegradability, reduce cost and decrease environmental pollution and hazards. In this study, obsolete high density polyethylene (HDPE) has used as polymer matrix and banana fiber as reinforcement material. Composites (5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of fiber contents) were made by hot press molding method by using Paul-Otto Weber Hydraulic press machine. The physical, mechanical and thermal properties of banana fiber-HDPE composites were studied and investigated the increment or decrement nature of different properties due to addition of banana fiber in BF-HDPE composites. The bulk density of composites increased with the increase wt. (%) of fiber content in composites. Water absorption ability of banana fiber and BF-HDPE composites also increased with the increase of wt. (%) of fiber content in composites and with socking time. Tensile strength of the BF-HDPE composites increased with the increase of fiber content in both cases (continuous aligned fiber orientation and continuous bidirectional fiber orientation). Moreover, the tensile strength of BF-HDPE composites with continuous aligned fiber orientation was greater than that of continuous bidirectional fiber orientation. At first, the flexural strength increased for 5% BF-HDPE composites then the value decreased for other higher compositions. The flexural strength of continuous aligned fiber orientation was slightly greater than that of continuous bidirectional fiber orientation and composite with 5% banana fiber showed better flexural properties than others. Leeb’s rebound hardness decreased with the increase of fiber addition. Different thermal properties like TG/DTG, DTA of the obsolete HDPE and BF-HDPE composites were studied using thermo gravimetric analyzer and it was found that composite with 20% fiber content was more thermally stable than three other compositions.

Highlights

Composite materials are the material produced by the combination of two or more individually different materials which show superior properties from their constituent materials
The physical, mechanical and thermal properties of banana fiber-high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites were performed to investigate the change of different properties due to addition of banana fiber in BF-HDPE composites
The bulk density of banana fiber in BF-HDPE composites increased with the addition of fiber content in composites because the fiber density is higher than HDPE

Summary

Introduction

Composite materials are the material produced by the combination of two or more individually different materials which show superior properties from their constituent materials. The constituents of the substances work together to make the composite a superior material compared to the individual constituents. In case of composite material, one or more discontinuous phase known as reinforcement is inserted in a continuous phase known as matrix. Reinforcement materials are harder and stronger than matrix. As the reinforcement is generally much stronger and stiffer than the matrix so it gives the composites different good properties. This is because the reinforcements are usually discontinuous, the matrix helps to transfer load among the reinforcement

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