Study of thermo - mechanical behavior of kenaf fiber / polypropylene(pp) nanocomposites

Kenaf fibre is one of the potential candidates to be used with the thermoplastic to form bio-composites for application in automotive field. Thermal and Mechanical properties of hybrid composites which consist of polypropylene (PP), Nano-clay (NC) and kenaf fiber (K) have been investigated with or without coupling agent/ with or without alkali treatment of fiber. Polypropylene and Nano-clay were blended with the coupling agent coated fiber in a twin screw extruder and then injection molded. The weight fraction, Nano-clay varied between 1/3/5 wt%. The samples were characterized by tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), melt flow index (MFI), Impact strength, Differential scanning calorimetry and Heat deflection temperature. Morphology of the Nanocomposite is characterized by the Scanning Electron Microscopy.