Mechanical and thermal properties of Kenaf reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-natural rubber (NR) composites

In this paper, natural rubber (NR) was mixed with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and kenaf as fillerreinforcement for the polymer composite. Mixing the material using the internal mixer and hot press machine was able toblend the material homogeneously. Investigation of the new polymer composite characterisation was carried out by thermalgravimetric analysis (TGA), along with tensile, flexural and impact tests. The TGA for the polymer composite achieved322⁰C before degradation and increase in tensile and impact strength with the increase of TPU in the polymer compositematrices were observed. The result indicated an improvement in tensile, flexural and impact strength for the kenaf filledTPU-NR composites. The mixing of kenaf fibre and TPU-NR polymer showed degradation that was gradually diminishingturned into ashes. TGA result showed all compositions of kenaf filled TPU-NR composites samples shared the same peaktemperature, being degraded at 600⁰C

Conceptual design of automobile engine rubber mounting composite using TRIZ-Morphological chart-analytic network process technique

An engine rubber mounting is one of the important parts of a vehicle. It is a function to isolate or absorb and to reduce vibration to the vehicle body thus to the passenger itself. Due to the engine compartments environment such as heat and massive vibration due to road conditions, the engine rubber mountings lifespan has been reduced. Thus several studies have been conducted to upgrade the material lifespan to make it more reliable and better engine mounting components. This paper presents the conceptual design of kenaf fiber polymer as automotive engine rubber mounting composites using the integration of Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ). In this early stage, the solution is generated using 40 inventive principles and TRIZ contradiction method. The solution parameter for the specific design character is the selected using the morphological chart to develop a systematic conceptual design for the component. Four (4) innovative design concepts were produced and Analytic Network Process (ANP) methods were utilized to perform the multi-criteria decision-making process of selecting the best concept design for the polymer composite engine rubber mounting component. Keywords: TRIZ, ANP, Morphological, Automotive composites component, Engine rubber composite mountin

Physical and damping properties of kenaf fibre filled natural rubber/thermoplastic polyurethane composites

The paper presents the investigation of the effect of alkaline treatment of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) on physical and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) viscoelastic properties of kenaf fibre filled natural rubber (NR)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites. The treated kenaf fiber, NR and TPU were weighed and proportioned according to the required compositions and were blended using hot mixed Brabender machine. The polymer composites were then fabricated using the hot press to form a sample board. The sample was cut and prepared and water absorption, density, thickness swelling and DMA tests were performed. As far as physical properties are concerned, composites with the highest NR amount of shows the best results, which indicates good fiber bonding adhesion. The polymer composites with the highest amount of TPU shows the highest damping properties at high temperature