The Flexural, Impact and Thermal Properties of Untreated Short Sugar Palm Fibre Reinforced High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS) Composites

This study investigated the mechanical and thermal performance of short sugar palm (Arenga pinnata) fibre-reinforced high impact polystyrene composites. Fibre sizes of 30-50 mesh and five different fibre loadings from 10 to 50% by weight have been used. The melt mixing method and hot compression moulding were used as the fabrication techniques for the composites. The flexural behaviour, impact testing, dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the moisture absorption of short SPF-HIPS composites reinforced with varying fibre loadings were studied. The results showed that increasing the loading of short SPF in the HIPS matrix improved the flexural moduli of the composites. Lower impact strength resulted when the fibre loading was increased, and the moisture content increased significantly. The DMA test results showed increases in the storage modulus and thermal stability for the SPF-HIPS composites. Finally, the TGA test showed degradation behaviour of the composites when they were exposed to a high temperature environment. With some advantage embedding these fibres can be an alternative choice of natural fibre for reinforcing thermoplastics.