Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Tert-butyl catechol/alkaline-treated kenaf/jute polyethylene hybrid composites: impact on physico-mechanical, thermal and morphological properties

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polymer Bulletin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study focuses on the effects of fiber treatment on the mechanical, morphological, physical and thermal properties of kenaf/jute/polyethylene composites, by using alkaline-treated and raw fibers. The core of jute and kenaf fibers was chopped into shorter lengths and used for composite fabrication. The composites were then subjected to tensile, water absorption, SEM, FTIR, DSC and TGA tests. According to the FTIR spectroscopy results, the alkaline treatment removed a significant amount of lignin and other impurities, especially at lower infrared band. This reduced fibers’ hydrophilicity, making it more compatible with the polymer. This is evident from the SEM results, as it shows improved interfacial bonding. Therefore, the treated fiber composites, especially for 15 wt% composites, have higher tensile strengths, more thermal stability and higher activation energy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Elbadry EA, Abdalla GA, Aboraia M, Oraby EA (2012) Notch sensitivity of short and 2D plain woven glass fibres reinforced with different polymer matrix composites. J Reinf Plast Compos 36:1092–1098. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/354547

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Sanjay MR, Madhu P, Jawaid M, Senthamaraikannan P, Senthil S, Pradeep S (2018) Characterization and properties of natural fiber polymer composites: a comprehensive review. J Clean Prod 172:566–581. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ramnath BV, Manickavasagam VM, Elanchezhian C, Krishna CV, Karthik S, Saravanan K (2014) Determination of mechanical properties of intra-layer abaca-jute-glass fiber reinforced composite. Mater Des 60:643–652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2014.03.061

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Sanjay MR, Arpitha GR, Naik LL, Gopalakrishna K, Yogesha B (2016) Applications of natural fibers and its composites: an overview. Nat Res 7:108–114. https://doi.org/10.4236/nr.2016.73011

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Sanjay MR, Arpitha GR, Yogesha B (2015) Study on mechanical properties of natural-glass fibre reinforced polymer hybrid composites: a review. Mater Today Proc 2:2959–2967. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2015.07.264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Deng Y, Paraskevas D, Tian Y, Acker KV, Dewulf W, Duflou JR (2016) Life cycle assessment of flax-fibre reinforced epoxidized linseed oil composite with a flame retardant for electronic applications. J Clean Prod 133:427–438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.05.172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Gowda TM, Naidu ACB, Chhaya R (1999) Some mechanical properties of untreated jute fabric-reinforced polyester composites. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 30:277–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-835X(98)00157-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Ozturk B (2010) Hybrid effect in the mechanical properties of jute/rockwool hybrid fibers reinforced phenol formaldehyde composites. Fibers Polym 11:464–473. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12221-010-0464-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Edeerozy AMM, Akil HM, Azhar AB, Ariffin MIZ (2006) Chemical modification of kenaf fibers. Mater Lett 61:2023–2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2006.08.006

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Cherian BM, Leão AL, Souza SF, Costa LMM, Olyveira GM, Kottaisamy M, Nagarajan ER, Thomas S (2011) Cellulose nanocomposites with nanofibers isolated from pineapple leaf fibers for medical applications. Carbohyd Polym 86:1790–1798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2011.07.009

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Nahar S, Khan AR, Dey K, Sarker B, Das KA, Ghoshal S (2011) Comparative studies of mechanical and interfacial properties between jute and bamboo fiber-reinforced polypropylene-based composites. J Thermoplast Compos Mater 25:15–32. https://doi.org/10.1177/0892705711404725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kabir MA, Huque MM, Islam MR, Bledzki AK (2010) Mechanical properties of jute fiber reinforced polypropylene composite: effect of chemical treatment by benzenediazonium salt in alkaline medium. BioResources 5:1618–1625. https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.5.3.1618-1625

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Joseph P, Mathew G, Joseph K, Groeninckx G, Thomas S (2003) Dynamic mechanical properties of short sisal fibre reinforced polypropylene composite. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 34:275–390. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-835X(02)00020-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Monteiro SN, Calado V, Rodriguez RJS, Margem FM (2012) Thermogravimetric behavior of natural fibers reinforced polymer composites—an overview. Mater Sci Eng, A 557:17–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2012.05.109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Shubhra QTH, Alam AKMM (2011) Effect of gamma radiation on the mechanical properties of natural silk fiber and synthetic E-glass fiber reinforced polypropylene composites: a comparative study. Radiat Phys Chem 80:1228–1232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2011.04.010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Bledzki AK, Faruk O (2005) Microcellular wood fiber reinforced PP composites: cell morphology, surface roughness, impact, and odor properties. J Cell Plast 41:539–550. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021955X05059033

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Pan M, Zhang SY, Zhou D (2009) Preparation and properties of wheat straw fiber-polypropylene composites. Part II. Investigation of surface treatments on the thermo-mechanical and rheological properties of the composites. J Compos Mater 44:1061–1073. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021998309349549

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Bachtiar D, Sapuan SM, Hamdan MM (2008) The effect of alkaline treatment on tensile properties of sugar palm fibre reinforced epoxy composites. Mater Des 29:1285–1290. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2007.09.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Vilaseca F, Mendez JA, Pelach A, Llop M, Canigueral N, Girones J (2007) Composite materials derived from biodegradable starch polymer and jute strands. Process Biochem 42:329–334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procbio.2006.09.004

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. ASTM E168-16 (2016) Standard practices for general techniques of infrared quantitative analysis. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. https://doi.org/10.1520/E0168-16

    Book  Google Scholar 

  21. ASTM E1252-98 (2013) Standard practice for general techniques for obtaining infrared spectra for qualitative analysis. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. https://doi.org/10.1520/E1252-98R13E01

    Book  Google Scholar 

  22. ASTM E2015-04 (2014) Standard guide for preparation of plastics and polymeric specimens for microstructural examination. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. https://doi.org/10.1520/E2015-04R14

    Book  Google Scholar 

  23. ASTM D638-14 (2014) Standard test method for tensile properties of plastics. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. https://doi.org/10.1520/D0638-14

    Book  Google Scholar 

  24. ASTM D570-98 (2010) Standard test method for water absorption of plastics. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. https://doi.org/10.1520/D0570-98R10E01

    Book  Google Scholar 

  25. ASTM E1868-10 (2015) Standard test methods for loss-on-drying by thermogravimetry. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. https://doi.org/10.1520/E1868-10R15

    Book  Google Scholar 

  26. ASTM E1131-08 (2014) Standard test method for compositional analysis by thermogravimetry. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. https://doi.org/10.1520/E1131

    Book  Google Scholar 

  27. ASTM D3418-15 (2015) Standard test method for transition temperatures and enthalpies of fusion and crystallization of polymers by differential scanning calorimetry. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. https://doi.org/10.1520/D3418-15

    Book  Google Scholar 

  28. ASTM E1269-11 (2011) Standard test method for determining specific heat capacity by differential scanning calorimetry. ASTM International, West Conshohocken. https://doi.org/10.1520/E1269-11

    Book  Google Scholar 

  29. Li X, Tabil LG, Panigrahi S (2007) Chemical treatments of natural fiber for use in natural fiber-reinforced composites: a review. J Polym Environ 15:25–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-006-0042-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Agrawal R, Saxena NS, Sharma KB, Thomas S, Sreekala MS (2000) Activation energy and crystallization kinetics of untreated and treated oil palm fibre reinforced phenol formaldehyde composites. Mater Sci Eng Part A 277:77–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-5093(99)00556-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Khan RA, Khan MA, Zaman HU, Khan MN, Sultana S (2010) Comparative studies of mechanical and interfacial properties between jute and E-glass fibers reinforced polypropylene composites. J Reinf Plast Compos 29:1078–1088. https://doi.org/10.1177/0731684409103148

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Ganan P, Zulunga R, Restrepo A, Labidi J, Mondragon I (2008) Plantain fibre bundles isolated from Colombian agro-industrial restudies. Biores Technol 99:486–491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2007.01.012

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Rahman MR, Islam MN, Haque MM, Hamdan S, Ahmed AS (2010) Effect of chemical treatment on rice husk (RH) reinforced polyethylene (PE) composites. BioResources 5:854–869. https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.5.2.854-869

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Bulut Y, Aksit A (2013) A comparative study on chemical treatment of jute fiber: potassium dichromate, potassium permanganate and sodium perborate trihydrate. Cellulose 20:3155–3164. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-013-0049-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Sinha E, Rout SK (2009) Influence of fibre-surface treatment on structural, thermal and mechanical properties of jute fibre and its composite. Bull Mater Sci 32:65–76. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-009-0010-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Wang B (2004) Pre-treatment of flax fibers for use in rotationally molded bio-composites. Master thesis, University of Saskatchewan, Canada. http://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-08132004-114954

  37. Ray D, Sarkara BK, Rana AK, Bose NR (2001) The mechanical properties of vinyl ester resin matrix composites reinforced with alkali-treated jute fibres. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 32:119–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1359-835X(00)00101-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Hossen MF, Hamdan S, Rahman MR, Rahman MM, Liew FK, Lai JC (2015) Effect of fiber treatment and nanoclay on the tensile properties of jute fiber reinforced polyethylene/clay nanocomposites. Fibers Polym 16:479–485. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12221-015-0479-x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Sever K (2010) The improvement of mechanical properties of jute fiber/LDPE composites by fiber surface treatment. J Reinf Plast Compos 29(13):1921–1929. https://doi.org/10.1177/0731684409339078

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Ray D, Sengupta S, Sengupta SP, Mohanty AK, Misra M (2007) A study of the mechanical and fracture behavior of jute fabric reinforced clay modified thermoplastic starch-matrix composites. Macromol Mater Eng 292:1075–1084. https://doi.org/10.1002/mame.200700111

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Kokabi M, Sirousazar M, Hassan ZM (2007) PVA-clay nanocomposite hydrogels for wound dressing. Eur Polym J 43:773–781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2006.11.030

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Freire CSR, Silvestre AJD, Neto CP, Gandini A, Martin L, Mondragon I (2008) Composites based on acylated cellulose fibers and low-density polyethylene: effect of the fiber content, degree of substitution and fatty acid chain length on final properties. Compos Sci Technol 68:3358–3364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2008.09.008

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Hossain MK, Dewan MW, Hosur M, Jeelani S (2011) Mechanical performances of surface modified jute fiber reinforced biopol nanophased green composites. Compos Part B Eng 42:1701–1707. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2011.03.010

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Morshed MM, Alam MM, Deniels SM (2012) Moisture removal from natural jute fiber by plasma drying process. Plasma Chem Plasma Process 32:249–258. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021998313499955

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Raghavendra G, Ojha S, Acharya SK, Pal SK (2014) Jute fiber reinforced epoxy composites and comparison with the glass and neat epoxy composites. J Compos Mater 48:2537–2547. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021998313499955

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Bozkurt E, Kaya E, Tanoglu M (2007) Mechanical and thermal behavior of non-crimp glass fiber reinforced layered clay/epoxy nanocomposites. Compos Sci Technol 67:3394–3403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2007.03.021

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Wang X, Cui Y, Xu Q, Xie B, Li W (2010) Effect of alkali and silane treatment on the mechanical properties of jute-fiber-reinforced recycled polypropylene composites. J Vinyl Addit Technol 16:183–188. https://doi.org/10.1002/vnl.20230

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the support of Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). The authors are grateful to the Ministry of Education Malaysia (MOE) for providing financial assistance under the FGRS Grant scheme (FRGS/SG01(01)/1085/2013(31)).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Jalan Datuk Mohammad Musa, 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia

    Md Rezaur Rahman, Sinin Hamdan, Elammaran Jayamani & Muhammad Khusairy Bin Bakri

  2. Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Jalan Simpang Tiga, 93350, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

    Akshay Kakar & Muhammad Khusairy Bin Bakri

  3. Polymer Technology Section, Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia - Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering Technology, 78000, Alor Gajah, Melaka, Malaysia

    Fahmi Asyadi Bin Md Yusof

Authors
  1. Md Rezaur Rahman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sinin Hamdan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Elammaran Jayamani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Akshay Kakar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Muhammad Khusairy Bin Bakri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Fahmi Asyadi Bin Md Yusof
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Md Rezaur Rahman.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rahman, M.R., Hamdan, S., Jayamani, E. et al. Tert-butyl catechol/alkaline-treated kenaf/jute polyethylene hybrid composites: impact on physico-mechanical, thermal and morphological properties. Polym. Bull. 76, 763–784 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-018-2404-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-018-2404-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation