TITLE:
Effect of Natural Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composite Using Resin Impregnation
AUTHORS:
Gibeop Nam, Nanqi Wu, Kazuya Okubo, Toru Fujii
KEYWORDS:
Kenaf Fiber, Bamboo Fiber, Natural Fiber Reinforced Composite, Resin Impregnation Method, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Phenolic Resin, Fiber Treatment, Mechanical Properties
JOURNAL NAME:
Agricultural Sciences,
Vol.5 No.13,
November
26,
2014
ABSTRACT: In this paper, we deals with mechanical performance of resin impregnation with natural fiber and fiber reinforced composites. The effect of the addition of a rein impregnation process on static strength of the injection molded composites was investigated by carrying out tensile and banding tests, followed by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation of fiber surface and fracture surface of composites. The tensile strength of natural fiber and natural fiber reinforced composites with resin impregnation method increases with Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) impregnation. In addition, Phenol resin impregnation recovers fiber tensile strength after alkali treatment. Resin impregnation causes decrease in contact surface area; however, it does not cause decrease in mechanical properties. Our results suggest that the using rein impregnation method has better effect on the mechanical properties of natural fiber reinforced Polypropylene (PP) composites.