Salleh F.M., Hassan A., Yahya R., Lafia-Araga R.A., Azzahari A.D., Nazir M.N.Z.M.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Department of Chemistry, School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Federal University of Technology, 920001 Minna, Nigeria; Central Service Unit (Laboratory), F
Salleh, F.M., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Hassan, A., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Yahya, R., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Lafia-Araga, R.A., Department of Chemistry, School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Federal University of Technology, 920001 Minna, Nigeria; Azzahari, A.D., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Nazir, M.N.Z.M., Central Service Unit (Laboratory), Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The effects of compatibilizer on the tensile, flexural and interfacial adhesion behavior of kenaf fiber reinforced high density polyethylene composites were investigated. The addition of maleic anhydride grafted high density polyethylene (MA-HDPE) as compatibilizer into the composites was found to improve the mechanical properties and the adhesion behavior of the composites. These improvements were due to the improved compatibility between matrix and fiber. 8 % MA-HDPE loading provided maximum enhancement in tensile and flexural properties when compared to the other compatibilizer contents. Meanwhile, uncompatibilized composites showed poorer mechanical properties and interfacial behavior relative to the compatibilized composites. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the changed chemical structures by the appearance of stretching vibration of the ester carbonyl groups (C=O) around 1725 cm-1 to 1742 cm-1 and the peak of hydroxyl group at 3327 cm-1 in the compatibilized composites. This indicates that the maleic anhydride has bonded to the kenaf fiber through esterification reaction, giving rise to strong interfacial bonding between thematrix and fiber. The improvement in the interfacial behavior was evident from the tensile fracture surface morphology using a field emission scanning electron microscopy.
Adhesion; Compatibilizers; Esterification; Esters; Fiber bonding; Field emission microscopes; Grafting (chemical); High density polyethylenes; Infrared spectroscopy; Kenaf fibers; Maleic anhydride; Mechanical properties; Stretching; Tensile strength; Esterification reactions; Field emission scanning electron microscopy; Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy; Interfacial adhesions; Interfacial behaviors; Mechanical performance; Tensile and flexural properties; Tensile fracture surfaces; Fibers; Adhesion; Esterification; Esters; High Density Polyethylene; Infrared Spectroscopy; Interfacial Polymerization; Kenaf; Maleic Anhydride; Mechanical Properties; Tensile Strength