Prediction of the Elastic Modulus of Wood Flour/Kenaf Fibre/Polypropylene Hybrid Composites

The prediction of the elastic modulus of short natural fibre hybrid composites hasbeen investigated by using the properties of the pure composites through therule of hybrid mixtures (RoHM) equation. In this equation, a hybrid natural fibre composite assumed as a system consisting of two separate single systems, namely particle/polymer and short-fibre/polymer systems. However, there is no interaction between particles and short fibres. Polypropylene was used as the polymer matrix and 40-80 mesh kenaf fibre and 60-100 mesh wood flour were used as the fibre and the particulate reinforcements, respectively. Hybrid composites were produced by kenaf fibre/wood flour ratios of 40:0, 30:10, 20:20, 10:30, and 0:40. Maleic anhydride and DCP have been also used as the coupling agent and initiator, respectively. Mixing process carried out in an internal mixer at 180°C and 60 rpm. The rule of hybrid mix-tures (RoHM) equation has been employed using the weight and volume fractions of the reinforcements. The relationship between experimental and predicted values was evaluated and the accuracy of the estimation of the model was controlled. The results indicated that RoHM equation is able to predict the elastic modulus of the compos-ites. The comparison between experimental and predicted values showed that they are in good agreement