Fabrication of acrylic modified coconut fiber reinforced polypropylene biocomposites: Study of mechanical, thermal, and erosion properties

Coconut shell fiber-reinforced polypropylene (PP/CSP) biocomposites were prepared by using hand lay-out technique with different fractions of the modified fibers. Before proceeding to fabrication method, fibers were made compatible by chemical modification with acrylic acid. The interaction of acrylic modified coconut shell fibers with PP matrix was studied by using Fourier transforms Infrared spectroscopy. The morphology of chemically modified coconut fibers and coconut shell fibers reinforced polypropylene biocomposites were studied by using field emission scanning electron microscope. Due to strong interfacial interaction between PP and CSP, mechanical properties were improved. It was found that the tensile strength, elongation at break and loss modulus, rigidity of PP bio-composites were investigated as compared with that of virgin PP matrix. The thermal properties of the fabricated biocomposites were investigated by using thermogravimetric analysis. The semi-ductile properties of the fabricated PP biohybrids were confirmed through erosion ring test. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:2852-2862, 2017. (c) 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers