Effect of gamma radiation on mechanical properties of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF)-reinforced low-density polyethylene (L
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Effect of gamma radiation on mechanical properties of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF)‑reinforced low‑density polyethylene (LDPE) composites Habibur Rahman1 · Shah Alimuzzaman2 · M. M. Alamgir Sayeed3 · Ruhul Amin Khan4 Received: 3 December 2018 / Accepted: 2 December 2019 © Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology 2019
Abstract Pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) is one of the abundantly available agro-waste materials in Bangladesh. PALF-reinforced lowdensity polyethylene (LDPE)-based composites were fabricated by compression molding with randomly oriented fiber loading varying 10–60 wt%. In this study the influence of the fiber loading on the mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural and Izod impact was investigated. Water absorption tests of the composites were also carried out for determining water resistance properties of composites. Thermal properties of PALF were analyzed by thermogravimetry and derivative thermogravimetry. Scanning electronic microscopic studies were performed to understand the fiber–matrix adhesion and fiber breakage. To improve the compatibility between fiber and matrix, 50/50 PALF/LDPE composites were irradiated with gamma rays (Co-60) of doses where composites irradiated with 7.5 kGy dose showed the best results. Tensile properties of the composites were found to be improved significantly after gamma irradiation. Keywords PALF · LDPE · Polymer composite · Tensile properties · Water absorbency · Gamma radiation
Introduction Natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites have become a very popular material in the past four decades for biodegradability, high specific strength, lightweight, sustainability, low cost and high modulus. Natural fibers are obtained directly by cultivation of agricultural sources or from the * M. M. Alamgir Sayeed [email protected] Habibur Rahman [email protected] Shah Alimuzzaman [email protected] Ruhul Amin Khan [email protected] 1
Department of Textile Engineering, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore 7408, Bangladesh
2
Department of Fabric Engineering, Bangladesh University of Textiles, Tejgaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh
3
Textile Physics Division, Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, Manik Mia Avenue, Dhaka 1207, Bangladesh
4
Institute of Radiation and Polymer Technology (IRPT), Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh
wastages of seeds, fruits, straws, barks, leaves, etc. [1]. On the other hand, the non-degradable thermoplastics composites are not possible to degrade biologically, but these can be recycled easily rather than thermoset composites [2]. From the socio-economic prospective the combination of natural fibers and biodegradable polymers used to fabricate a green composites are easily decomposed by bacteria or enzyme, has a very good impact in the country’s economy because of its environmental and biodegradable nature [3, 4]. At present natural fibers such as sisal, hemp, flax, jute, coir, rice straw, banana, wood, bamboo, etc., have drawn attention as
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