Mechanical properties of chemically treated banana and pineapple leaf fiber reinforced hybrid polypropylene composites

Modern research focuses on renewable, biodegradable and natural material to replace synthetic materials. Natural fiber based composites are under intensive study due to their eco-friendly nature and peculiar properties. Advantages of natural fibers are their continuous supply, easy handling and biodegradable nature. The aim of the present research is to evaluate the change in mechanical properties of polypropylene by reinforcing it with chopped pineapple leaf and banana fiber. Effect of fiber content and ratio, as well as fiber chemical treatment on mechanical properties was also studied. Pineapple leaf and banana fiber are two abundantly available fibers in Bangladesh. Both pineapple leaf and banana fiber were chemically treated with 5% sodium hydroxide. Discontinuous and randompineapple leaf and banana fiber reinforced hybrid polypropylene composites were prepared using compression moulding technique. Fiber loading was varied at 2, 5, 10 and 15 wt%, while pineapple leaf and banana fiber ratio were varied at 3:1, 1:1 and 1:3. Best set of mechanical properties was obtained when polypropylene was reinforced with 5 wt% pineapple leaf and banana fiber at a ratio of 3:1. On the other hand, sodium hydroxide treated fiber reinforced composites had better mechanical properties as compared to those of raw fiber reinforced composites.