Effect of Fiber Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Kenaf FiberEcoflex Composites

ABSTRACT: The composite material based on whole stem kenaf fiber (WSK) and Ecoflex (biode-gradable thermoplastic) were prepared by melt blending technique and characterized. The compo-sites were prepared using different fiber loadings and the fiber was treated with various concentrations of NaOH solution by soaking for 3 h. The compounding of composite were carried out at different fiber loadings (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%) using Brabender internal mixer at 130C for 10min. The composites were then pressed using compression molding to produce biodegradable kenaf/Ecoflex sheets. The effects of kenaf fiber loading and NaOH treatment of WSK fiber surface on mechanical properties was examined. The results showed that 40 % fiber loading improved the tensile strength properties and WSK fiber treated with 4 % NaOH was found to enhance tensile and flexural properties compared with untreated fiber. The FTIR characterization showed that alkali treatment removes hemicellulose and lignin from WSK kenaf fiber surface. KEY WORDS: whole stem kenaf (WSK) fiber, WSK/Ecoflex biodegradable composites, NaOH treatment, mechanical properties