Kenaf fiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composites (KFRPC) consisting
of kenaf fiber (KF) and unsaturated polyester were produced by pultrusion machine,
molded into rod specimens. KF and unsaturated polyester was being analyzed and
characterized in terms of degradation, physical and mechanical properties, such as
immersion, strength, elongation, absorbency and surface characteristic. In this
research, KF and unsaturated polyester were immersed in distilled water (DW),
seawater (SW) and acidic solution (AS) at room temperature to study the behavior of
the specimen after long term immersion. KF immersed in SW exhibited the highest
level of water absorption, whereas KF immersed in AS showed the lowest water
absorption values. The tensile strength of the immersed KF decreased with
increasing immersion time implying the degradation of the fiber. Investigation on the
microstructure of immersed kenaf fibers using SEM reveal the degradation of the KF
with presence of microcracks and increased in the surface roughness. Effect of water
immersion on the bending behavior of the unsaturated polyester was also
experimentally investigated. Water diffusion was observed more in DW than SW and
AS, respectively. The unsaturated polyester experienced significant reduction of the
flexural strength. These are attributed to the function of the water molecules
absorbed in the unsaturated polyester. KFRPC were successfully produced with 50%,
60% and 70% of KF by volume, using pultrusion method. The various percent of KF
volume were tested to identify the influence of KF volume (%) on the mechanical
properties
