Mechanical properties of abaca fibre reinforced with recycled polypropylene composite

This study aims to develop sustainable composite materials using recycled polypropylene and abaca natural fibres following the compression molding technique. The chopped abaca fibres have been treated with different alkaline (NaOH) concentrations (4, 8 & 12 wt %) to eliminate the lignin, hemicellulose, wax and pectin components and then subjected to FTIR analysis to verify the presence of their functional elements in the structure. Likewise, XRD analysis is performed to verify the crystalline phase transition in recycled polypropylene and abaca fibres. The SEM study reveals that the treated abaca fibres have a rougher surface than the untreated ones. TGA analysis confirms the good thermal stability of recycled polypropylene and abaca fibres. The mechanical parameters of the developed composite, including its tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength, are studied. It is found that the composites with greater abaca fibres loading and 12% NaOH treatment exhibit good mechanical strength. Also, the composite with 30% abaca fibre loading has the lowest water absorption levels as compared to other composites. This study also analyzes the failure mode of composites during mechanical testing. The developed composite can be used in interior car components.