Effect of Fibre Hybridization on Mechanical Properties of Nylon-Broom Grass/Root-Broom Grass Fibre Reinforced Hybrid Polypropylene Composites

Abstract

In the present research, nylon-broom grass and onion root-broom grass reinforced hybrid polypropylene composites were manufactured using a hot press machine. Three different levels of fibre loading (5, 10, and 15 wt.%) with fibre ratios of 1:1 were incorporated in the polypropylene matrix. Tensile, flexural, impact and hardness tests of the composites were subsequently carried out. The two combinations showed opposite trends for tensile strength and impact strength and similar trends for Young’s modulus, elongation, flexural properties and hardness. Tensile strength of the onion root containing composites increased with an increase of fibre loading, while in the nylon containing composites, tensile strength decreased with an increase in fibre loading. Their Young’s modulus increased and % elongation decreased with an increase in fibre content. Both flexural strength and flexural modulus increased with an increase in fibre content in both combinations. The impact strength of the onion root containing composites decreased with an increase in fibre loading, while the nylon containing composites showed the opposite trend. The hardness of both combinations increased with an increase in fibre content. The best set of properties were found at 15 wt% fibre loading in the nylon-broom grass-PP hybrid composite.