Effects of alkaline treatment and a compatibilizing agent on tensile properties of sugar palm fibre-reinforced high impact polystyrene composites

• Main Authors: Bachtiar, Dandi, Salit, Mohd Sapuan, Zainudin, Edi Syams, Abdan, Khalina, Mohd Dahlan, Khairul Zaman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: North Carolina State University 2011
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23063/1/Effects%20of%20alkaline%20treatment%20and%20a%20compatibilizing%20agent%20on%20tensile%20properties%20of%20sugar%20palm%20fibre-reinforced%20high%20impact%20polystyrene%20composites.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23063/; http://ojs.cnr.ncsu.edu/index.php/BioRes/article/view/BioRes_06_4_4815_Bachtiar_SZAM_Alk_Treat_Compatabilizing_Tensile_PS_Composite
• Institution: Universiti Putra Malaysia

The effects of alkaline treatment and a compatibilizing agent on the tensile properties of sugar palm fibre-reinforced high impact polystyrene (HIPS) composites were studied. Two concentrations of an alkali solution (4% and 6%) and two percentages of a compatibilizing agent (2% and 3%) were used in this study. The alkaline treatment was carried out by immersing the fibres in 4% and 6% alkali solutions for 1 hour. A 40 wt. % of sugar palm fibre (SPF) was blended with HIPS and the compatibilizing agent using a Brabender melt mixer at 165 °C. All the treated fiber composites showed tensile strength enhancement compared with untreated composites. The maximum strength increase was 35%, which was achieved by 4% alkali treatment; however, there was no improvement in the tensile modulus.