Physico-Mechanical Properties of Pineapple Leaf and Banana Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Polypropylene Composites: Effect of Fiber Ratio and Sodium Hydroxide Treatment

Natural fibers are becoming abundant and viable substitute for the synthetic fibers day by day, as synthetic fibers are expensive and nonrenewable. The main aim of present research is to evaluate the effect of sodium hydroxide treatment and banana and pineapple leaf fiber ratio on mechanical and physical properties of pineapple leaf-banana fiber reinforced hybrid polypropylene composites. Hybrid composites were prepared using a hot press machine. Raw pineapple leaf and banana fiber were chemically treated with 5% sodium hydroxide to increase adhesion between the fibers and polypropylene. Both raw and alkali treated fibers at 5 wt% were utilized during composite preparation. Pineapple leaf and banana fiber ratios were varied in 1:1, 3:1 and 1:3. Morphological analysis (scanning electron microscopy) and mechanical (tensile, flexural and hardness) tests of prepared composites were subsequently conducted. Better adhesion between the fibers and polypropylene was observed in case of treated fiber composites as compared to raw fiber composites. Scanning electron microscopic analysis also showed better bonding between the fibers and polypropylene when pineapple leaf and banana fiber ratio was 3:1. Subsequently thebest set of mechanical properties was attained for that particular fiber ratio. (paper)