Study on Cure Characteristics and Mechanical Behaviours of Kenaf Fibre Reinforced Natural Rubber Composites

Abstract:

In recent years, natural fibres appear to be as an outstanding material to substitute the conventional reinforcement materials in polymer composites. Kenaf fibre reinforced natural rubber (KFNR) composite was prepared by incorporating of different loadings of kenaf fibre using two roll mill machines. The compound was vulcanised at 150°C according to their respective cure time. The intention of this study is to investigate the influence of kenaf fibre on cure characteristics and mechanical bahaviour of (KFNR) composites.The result showed that the higher fibre content in composites led to shorter optimum cure time, t₉₀. It was also observed that the tensile strength and elongation at break gradually decreased with an increment in fibre loadings. However, the trend was not similar for the hardness where the hardness value was increased by the increment of fibre loadings. The study has exhibited that the optimum fibre loading for the best performance of the composite achieved was 10 phr. The Scanning Electron Microscopy micrograph clarified that fibre dispersion and adhesion were weak thus resulting low in tensile strength and elongation at break.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 812)
• Pages: 66-72
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.812.66
• Online since: September 2013
• Authors: Mohd Zaini Nurul Aizan, Salim Abdul Salim Zainathul Akhmar, Ahmad Mohd Muhiddin, Zainudin Nor Hazwani, Jamil Siti Sarah
• Keywords: Cure Characteristics, Kenaf Fiber, Mechanical Property, Natural Rubber (NR)

References

[1] P. Wambua, J. Ivens, I. Verpoest, Natural fibre: can they replace glass fibre in fibre reinforced plastic. ComST, (2003) 1259-1264.

DOI: 10.1016/s0266-3538(03)00096-4

[2] Bernama. (2011, May 20). MARDI to commerciallize polymer composites from kenaf. Retrieved from malaysiadigest.com.

[3] H. Anuar, A. Zuraida, Improvement in mechanical properties of reinforced thermoplastic elastomer composite with kenaf bast fibre, Composites Part B 42 (2011) 462–465.

DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2010.12.013

[4] I.S. Ajie, S.M. Sapuan, E.S. Zainudin, K. Abdan, A review on kenaf fibre as reinforcement for polymeric composites, Int. J. Me. Mater. Eng. (2009) 239-248.

[5] H.M. Akil, M.F. Omar, A.A.M. Mazuki, S. Safiee, Z.A.M. Ishak, A. Abu Baka, Kenaf fibre reinforced composites: A review. J. Mater Des. (2011). 4107-4121.

DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2011.04.008

[6] M. Abdelmoulah, S. Boufi, M.N. Belgacem, A. Dufresne. Short natural-fibre reinforced polyethylene and natural rubber composites: effect of silane coupling agent and fibre loading. CompST, (2007). 1627-1639.

DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2006.07.003

[7] H.Ismail, M.R. Edyham, B. Wirjosentono, Bamboo fibre filled natural rubber composites: the effect of filler loading and bonding agent. Polym.Test. (2002) 139-144.

DOI: 10.1016/s0142-9418(01)00060-5

[8] G. Raju, M. M. Said, M. A Ahmad, Properties of kenaf fibre reinforced natural rubber composite, J. of Rubber Research, (2008) 187- 195.

[9] O.M.L. Asumani, R.G. Reid, R. Paskaramoorthy, The effects of alkali–silane treatment on the tensile and flexural properties of short fibre non-woven kenaf reinforced polypropylene composites, Composites: Part A 43 (2012) 1431–1440.

DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2012.04.007

[10] H. Ismail, N. F.Omar, N.Othman, The effect of kenaf fibres loading on cure characteristics and mechanical properties waste tyre dust/ kenaf fibres hybrid filler filled natural rubber compounds. Bioresour. (2011) 3742-3756.

DOI: 10.15376/biores.6.4.3742-3756

[11] Z. A. M. Ishak and A. A. Bakar, An investigation on the potential of rice husk ash as fillers for epoxidized natural rubber (ENR), J. Eur. Polym. 31 (1995) 259-269.

DOI: 10.1016/0014-3057(94)00156-1

[12] A. Samsuri, An Introduction to Polymer Science and Rubber Technology, University Publication Center (UPENA), Shah Alam, 2009.