Biocomposites Formulated with Virgin/Recycled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene

Abstract

This study aims to examine mechanical properties of biocomposites formulated with virgin/recycled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Neat virgin ABS (VABS), neat recycled ABS (RABS), VABS with 15% palm long fiber (VABS/15PLF), and RABS with 10% palm short fiber (RABS/10PLF) were fabricated and examined. Twin extruder machine was used to manufacture granular composite. Impact, tensile, and hardness tests were carried out. This study found that the incorporating palm fiber into the matrix polymer increased brittleness of the composites. Impact strength of the composites increases with the rise filler loadings. Increasing filler loading in VABS was found to be able to increase the composite hardness. Conversely, for RABS, the composite hardness was found to decrease with the rise filler loadings.