Thermal degredation study of kenaf fibre/epoxy composites using thermo gravimetric analysis

Kenaf fibres are receiving much attention in the natural fibre composite industry due to its potential as polymer reinforcements. However, like all natural fibres, kenaf fibres have lower thermal resistance as compared to synthetic fibres. In this current work, the characteristics of kenaf fibre/epoxy composites, both treated and untreated using alkalization process, exposed to high temperature were studied. Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to study the thermal decomposition behaviour of treated and untreated kenaf fibre/epoxy composites, glass fibre/epoxy composite as well as neat epoxy from room temperature up to 600ºC. Surface morphology of both kenaf fibre/epoxy composites after exposure at 100ºC was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results from the TGA showed that the addition of kenaf fibres into the epoxy slightly improves both the charring and thermal stability of the samples. However, it was observed that alkalization of fibres causes reduction in these behaviours. At 100ºC, the SEMs show more voids in the untreated composites than the treated ones, suggesting higher moisture content within the voids which influences the higher weight loss of untreated composite at this temperature