Polyaniline-coated kenaf core and its effect on the mechanical and electrical properties of epoxy resin

Novel conducting kenaf core/polyaniline (KC-PANI) biofibers were successfully prepared via in situ oxidative polymerization. The newly developed conducting KC achieved enhancement in DC conductivity up to seven fold compared to the raw KC. Enhanced interaction was obtained between the acetylated KC-PANI surfaces compared to untreated KC-PANI, without significant loss in the cellulose crystallinity. The morphological analysis revealed uniform layers of PANI deposited on the surface of acetylated KC. Epoxy resin (EP) containing KC-PANI (EP/KC-PANI composites) showed that the electrical percolation of KC-PANI occurred at 20wt.%. The tensile strength of the EP/KC-PANI composites was slightly reduced compared to that of EP/KC composites at the same loading fraction. However, the flexural test revealed that the presence of KC-PANI increased the flexural strength of the EP composites by up to 15wt.% loading. Electron micrograph of the EP/KC-PANI composite indicated favourable adhesion between components.