The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 16 No 1 (2012): 24 – 30

 

 

 

SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERISATION OF MALEATED POLYPROPYLENE-LALANG FIBER/POLYPROPELYNE COMPOSITES:

OPTIMISATION PREPARATION CONDITIONS AND THEIR PROPERTIES

 

(Penyediaan dan Pencirian Komposit Polipropelena Termaleik/Gentian Lalang/Polipropilena: Keadaan Penyediaan Optimum dan Sifatnya)

 

Sharil Fadli Mohamad Zamri^1*, Hasratul Nadiah Mohd Rashid¹, Nurul’ Ain Jamion¹

and Rahmah Mohamed²

 

¹International Education College (INTEC),

UiTM Campus Section 17, 40200 Shah Alam, Selangor

²Faculty of Applied Science,

Universiti Teknology MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor

 

*Corresponding author: sharil7240@salam.uitm.edu.my

 

 

Abstract

Polypropylene (PP) blend with natural lalang fiber (LF) were investigated in this study. LF was chosen in preparation of polymer composites because it is low cost, eco-friendly, abundance, renewable, biodegradable and shows excellent mechanical properties. Hence, LF has highly potential as a natural fiber filler in polymer composites. LF was prepared by drying the lalang leaves under the sun light and were crushed using hammer mill before they were soaked in 5 % sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution.  The fiber was then washed with distilled water until neutral. LF was dried in an oven then grinded and sieved into specific sizes. LF/PP and maleated polypropylene/LF/PP (MAPP/LF/PP) composites were prepared by extrusion method using a twin-screw extruder between LF, PP and MAPP at different compositions. The LF/PP and MAPP/LF/PP composites were shaped into 3 mm sheet samples using an electric hydraulic hot press at the temperature of 180 ˚C. Several studies were carried out to investigate the optimum preparation conditions including the effect of size and percentage of LF, as well as the percentage of MAPP on their mechanical properties using tensile tester and izod impact tester. Meanwhile, the thermal properties of PP, 15% M size LF/PP and 1% MAPP/15% M size LF/PP composites were analyzed using thermogravimety analysis (TGA) and the characteristic of LF on the cross section of 15% M size LF/PP and 1% MAPP/15% M size LF/PP composites were investigated using a digital microscope.

 

Keywords: Lalang, Polypropylene, Extrusion, Maleated polypropylene, Polymer composite

 

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