Effect of Ketuki Fiber on Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Thermoplastics Composites

Abstract

Different amount of raw Ketuki powder (average diameter: 60 -120 µm) was mixed with the thermoplastic polymers such as ethylene-1-octene copolymer (EOC) and isotactic polypropylene (iPP). The melt mixing was performed using an internal mixture and resulting composites were studied for the effect on morphology and mechanical behavior using electron microscopy, tensile testing and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The microscopic results showed that the polymer matrix is not compatible with filler resulting in worsening of mechanical properties especially in case of the iPP-based composites. For the EOC composites the rubbery nature of the matrix material remains still visible. The TGA analysis revealed slightly worsened thermal stability of composites, while tensile properties were found to be deteriorated as well.

Comparative Study of Polymer Composites with Cellulose Microfibers from Different Plant Resources

“…The growing research interest in this area, both from academic and industrial viewpoints, in the development of cellulose-based composite materials is due to the abundance, renewability, and biodegradability of cellulose-based fillers. Several kinds of natural fibers, such as sisal, bamboo, wheat stalk, pineapple leaf, jute, cotton, kenaf, wood, etc., have already been investigated in this context [5][6][7]. Many researchers explored various fiber isolation processes from these resources, mentioned as controlled acid hydrolysis and mechanical processes [8][9][10].…”

Rapid assessment of wetting of natural fiber surfaces by biodegradable copolyester using spectroscopic and microscopic techniques

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Polymer composites are one of the most commonly practiced polymeric materials, which are prepared by polymers and some fillers such as inorganic fillers [calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ), 6 silica (SiO 2 ), 7 multi-walled (MWCNT), 8 and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), 9 boehmite, 10 nanodiamond, 11 graphite, 12 etc.] and organic fillers from plant and animal origins such as natural fibers [raw fibers, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), [13][14][15] nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), 14 etc.] and others [lignin, 16 chitosan, 17 proteins, 18 hydroxyapatite, 19 etc.].…”