Thermal properties of palm fiber and palm fiber-reinforced ABS composite

Abstract

In this study, a natural fiber extracted from the palm tree was used as reinforcement for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) matrix composites. Palm fiber (PF)-reinforced ABS (PF-ABS) composites were prepared via injection molding machine. Three sets of samples were prepared for three different mass% (5, 10 and 20 %) of fiber contents. The effect of fiber addition in composite along with the age and different edges of the palm fiber on thermal properties was evaluated with the help of thermogravimetric/differential thermogravimetric, differential thermal analyses and thermomechanical analysis. Thermal stability of the palm fiber is more for 11- to 20-year age group than 5- to 10-year age group for both thin and thick edges of palm fiber. The thermal stability of PF-ABS composites for different mass percentage of fiber is more or less same except 10 % fiber content in PF-ABS composites.