EFFECT OF FIBRE TREATMENT ON LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE TENSILE PROPERTIES OF UNIDIRECTIONAL KENAF COMPOSITE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v76.5918Keywords:
Kenaf treatment, tensile properties, kenaf composites, nanosilica, polymer composite.Abstract
Kenaf fibre has become one of the best candidates to be used as reinforcement material in polymer composite. However, the adhesion between natural fibre and polymer is weak due to different polarity of natural fibre and hydrophobic polymer. This affects the properties of the composite. One of the method to overcome this compatibility issue is by treating the fibre using sodium hydroxide (NaOH). This study is aimed to evaluate the effect of NaOH treatment on longitudinal and transverse tensile properties of kenaf composites using three different concentration (3, 5, and 7 wt. % NaOH). The kenaf composite test specimens were prepared using filament winding and vacuum bagging techniques. The 0o and 90o tensile tests were conducted in accordance to ASTM standard D3039 in order to obtain longitudinal and transverse tensile properties of treated and untreated kenaf composites. The fracture surfaces of the specimens were observed using scanning electron microscope in order to identify fracture mechanisms involved during tension. NaOH treatment on kenaf fibre resulted in a significant improvement in longitudinal tensile modulus, strength and failure strain. This also indicates an improvement in toughness property as this can be observed through a larger area under graph of tensile stress-strain curve. The SEM micrographs showed that the interfacial adhesion between kenaf fibre and epoxy matrix was improved when the kenaf fibre was treated using NaOH. Therefore, NaOH treatment give positive effects on longitudinal and transverse tensile properties of kenaf composites. Kenaf composite treated with 7wt% NaOH showed the highest tensile strength for both longitudinal and transverse fibre directions.
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