Effect of maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene on the mechanical and morphological properties of chemically modified short-pineapple-leaf-fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites

With the rising cost of petroleum-based fibers, the utilization of plant fibers in the manufacture of polymer-matrix composites is gaining importance worldwide. The scope of this study was to examine the perspective of the use of pineapple leaf fibers (PALFs) as reinforcements for polypropylene (PP). These fibers are environmentally friendly, low-cost byproducts of pineapple cultivation and are readily available in the northeastern region of India. Here, both untreated and treated pineapple fibers were used. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MA-g-PP) was used as a compatibilizing agent. The polymer matrix of PP was used to prepare composite specimens with different volume fractions (5-20%) of fibers by the addition of 5% of MA-g-PP. These specimens were tested for their mechanical properties, and additional assessments were made via observations by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and IR spectroscopy. Increase in the impact behavior, flexural properties, and tensile moduli of the composites were noticed, and these were more appreciable in the treated fibers mixed with MA-g-PP. PALF in 10 vol % in PP mixed with MA-g-PP was the optimum and recommended composition, where the flexural properties were the maximum. The impact strength and the tensile modulus were also considerably high. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.