Jute fiber (hessian cloth)-reinforced polypropylene matrix composites (50 wt% fiber) were fabricated by compression molding. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, bending strength, bending modulus, and impact strength of the composites were found to be 48 MPa, 2.5 GPa, 56 MPa, 4.5 GPa, and 18 kJ/m2, respectively. Then E-glass fiber (woven)-reinforced polypropylene-based composites (50 wt% fiber) were fabricated and the mechanical properties were compared with those of the jute-based composites. It was revealed that E-glass fiber-based composites had almost double the mechanical properties as compared to jute composites. The interfacial shear strength of the jute and E-glass fiber-based systems was investigated and found to be 2.13 and 4.66 MPa, respectively, measured using the single-fiber fragmentation test. Fracture sides after flexural testing of both types of the composites were studied by scanning electron microscope and the results revealed poor fiber matrix adhesion for jute-based composites when compared to that of the E-glass fiber composites.

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In this study, sago starch was physically blended with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) via the melt blending process followed by injection molding to produce LDPE/sago starch (LPS) composites. The sago starch content was varied from 5 to 30 wt% of LDPE. The addition of starch to LDPE reduced the melt flow rate (MFR), the tensile strength, and impact strength, whereas the tensile modulus, flexural strength, and flexural modulus increased. To improve poor mechanical properties of the LPS, LDPE/glycerol thermoplastic starch (LPGTS) or LDPE/2:1 mixture of glycerol and urea thermoplastic starch (LPMTS) was used in this study. The effect of compatibilizer (maleic anhydride) on properties of the LPMTS specimens was also investigated. The LPS, LPGTS, LPMTS, and maleic anhydride treated LPMTS (LPMTSM) samples were analyzed for the MFR, mechanical properties (tensile, flexural, and impact tests), thermal (TGA and DSC), and morphological properties. As a result, the incorporation of plasticizers or compatibilizer into LPS caused the considerable improvement in MFR and mechanical properties. Moreover, the presence of compatibilizer produced better properties for the LPMTSM sample than for the other samples, indicating better dispersion and homogeneity of starch to the matrix. In addition, thermal stability, DSC, and phase morphology were carried out for different LPS samples. C 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Technol 2016; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com.

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