Study of the Physical, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Banana Fiber Reinforced HDPE Composites

Abstract

Natural fiber reinforced composite materials are replacing the conventional materials, owing to their excellent physical, mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. Also they increase biodegradability, reduce cost and decrease environmental pollution and hazards. In this study, obsolete high density polyethylene (HDPE) has used as polymer matrix and banana fiber as reinforcement material. Composites (5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of fiber contents) were made by hot press molding method by using Paul-Otto Weber Hydraulic press machine. The physical, mechanical and thermal properties of banana fiber-HDPE composites were studied and investigated the increment or decrement nature of different properties due to addition of banana fiber in BF-HDPE composites. The bulk density of composites increased with the increase wt. (%) of fiber content in composites. Water absorption ability of banana fiber and BF-HDPE composites also increased with the increase of wt. (%) of fiber content in composites and with socking time. Tensile strength of the BF-HDPE composites increased with the increase of fiber content in both cases (continuous aligned fiber orientation and continuous bidirectional fiber orientation). Moreover, the tensile strength of BF-HDPE composites with continuous aligned fiber orientation was greater than that of continuous bidirectional fiber orientation. At first, the flexural strength increased for 5% BF-HDPE composites then the value decreased for other higher compositions. The flexural strength of continuous aligned fiber orientation was slightly greater than that of continuous bidirectional fiber orientation and composite with 5% banana fiber showed better flexural properties than others. Leeb’s rebound hardness decreased with the increase of fiber addition. Different thermal properties like TG/DTG, DTA of the obsolete HDPE and BF-HDPE composites were studied using thermo gravimetric analyzer and it was found that composite with 20% fiber content was more thermally stable than three other compositions.