Abstract
This research has investigated the tensile properties and fractography of animal fibre-reinforced low density polyethylene composites. The composites were synthesized by hot compression moulding using chemically modified white and black cow hair biofibres as the reinforcing phase of composites. Alkaline solutions of varying molarities were used to prepare the chemical treatments in this present study. Tensile properties of the developed composites were evaluated based on molarities of chemical treatment and % fibre loading. Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the morphologies of the fractured surfaces of composites. Obtained tensile test results revealed significant enhancement in the tensile properties of composites, with the optimum combination of tensile properties presented by 2 wt% white cow hair biofibre reinforcement treated with 0.15 M sodium hydroxide. Observations from the fractographic analysis of the developed composites revealed shearing of the polymer matrix at the fibre-matrix interface and no fibre pullout behaviour.
Highlights
Mammalian hairs especially the human hair have been reported by many authors and researchers to exhibit very good physical and mechanical properties, which in turn account for their intrinsic ability to undergo appreciable mechanical stressing and various types of chemical and thermal treatments without sustaining permanent damage [1]-[3]
Observations from this result revealed that increase in molar concentration of the NaOH treatment is directly proportional to increase in the ultimate tensile strengths of most of the LDPE composites reinforced with NaOH-treated cow hair fibre (CHF) and for the KOH treatment there is no direct relationship between increase in molar concentration of the KOH treatment and enhancement in the ultimate tensile strengths of the LDPE composites reinforced with KOH-treated CHFs
The least enhancement is given by the LDPE composite reinforced with 0.15 M KOH-treated 4 wt% black cow hair fibre (BCHF) and it still supersedes the tensile stress at peak of the unreinforced LDPE polymer by 24.99%
Summary
Mammalian hairs especially the human hair have been reported by many authors and researchers to exhibit very good physical and mechanical properties, which in turn account for their intrinsic ability to undergo appreciable mechanical stressing and various types of chemical and thermal treatments without sustaining permanent damage [1]-[3]. This unique behaviour of hair has been attributed to the presence of structural proteins which are essentially keratin in the hair fibre [4]. These attractive properties of hair fibres have impelled materials scientists especially from the developing countries to reassess the economic importance of hair fibres, and in doing so, they are able to unlock a new vista for the industrial applications of hair fibres, as reinforcements for the synthesis of novel composite materials [11] [12]
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