Mechanical and Water Absorption Properties of Alkaline Treated Coconut (cocosnucifera) and Sponge (acanthus montanus) Fibers Reinforced Polypropylene Composites

Abstract

Abstract Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites have raised great attention and interest among researchers in recent years due to the consideration of developing an environmentally friendly and recyclable materials. In this research, the effect of alkaline treatment on the mechanical and water absorption properties of polymer composites developed from coconut and sponge fibers was investigated. The selected fibers were extracted by mechanical decortications and then cut into 10 mm length using scissors. The fibers were chemically treated with KOH in a shaker water bath before dispersing them randomly in polypropylene (PP) matrix. Composites with 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 wt% fibers were developed by compression molding. Tensile and flexural properties were evaluated using universal testing machine while water absorption test was carried out on the samples for 7 days. The research outcomes show that alkaline treatment of the fibers improved the flexural, tensile and water repellant properties of the developed composites