Fibers 2018, 6(4), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/fib6040094
Mechanical, Degradation and Water Uptake Properties of Fabric Reinforced Polypropylene Based Composites: Effect of Alkali on Composites
1
College of Fashion Technology & Management, Uttara, Dhaka 1230, Bangladesh
2
Textile Engineering College, Begumganj, Noakhali 3820, Bangladesh
3
Department of Textile Engineering, World University of Bangladesh, Green Road, Dhaka 1209, Bangladesh
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 16 August 2018 / Revised: 7 November 2018 / Accepted: 12 November 2018 / Published: 6 December 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Fiber-Reinforced Hybrid Composites)
Abstract
In this study, a fabric was manufactured consisting of 50% pineapple, 25% jute and 25% cotton fibers by weight, to make composites using polypropylene (PP) as a matrix material. We used compression molding technique, which kept 30% of the fabric content by total weight as the composite. The tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM), elongation break (Eb%), bending strength (BS) and bending modulus (BM) were investigated. From analyzed data, it was found that the composite values of TS, TM, Eb%, BS and BM were 58 MPa, 867 MPa, 22.38%, 42 MPa and 495 MPa, respectively. The TS, TM, Eb%, BS and BM of the neat polypropylene sheet were 28 MPa, 338 MPa, 75%, 20 MPa and 230 MPa, respectively. Due to fabric reinforcement, composite values for TS, TM, BS and BM increased 107%, 156%, 110% and 115%, respectively in comparison with a polypropylene sheet. A water absorption test was performed by dipping the composite samples in deionized water and it was noticed that water absorption was lower for PP-based composites. For investigating the effect of alkali, we sunk the composites in a solution containing 3%, 5% and 7% sodium hydroxide alkali solutions by weight, for 60 min after which their mechanical properties were investigated. A degradation test was carried out by putting the samples in soil for six months and it was noticed that the mechanical properties of fabric/PP composites degraded slowly. View Full-TextKeywords:
polypropylene (PP); composites; natural fiber; fabric; compression molding
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Hoque, M.B.; Solaiman; Alam, A.H.; Mahmud, H.; Nobi, A. Mechanical, Degradation and Water Uptake Properties of Fabric Reinforced Polypropylene Based Composites: Effect of Alkali on Composites. Fibers 2018, 6, 94.
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