Effect of Sugarcane Baggasse Fiber on Tensile Properties and Water Uptake Behaviour of Polypropylene(PP) Composites

Abstract

Sugarcane bagasse fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) based composites were prepared by compression molding. The fiber content was 40% by weight. Tensile strength (TS), tensile modulus (TM) and elongation break (Eb%) of the composites were found to be 51MPa, 1414 MPa and 14% respectively. The TS, TM and Eb% of the PP sheet were 25 MPa, 456 MPa and 76% respectively. Due to fiber reinforcement, an increase of 102% TS and 210% TM, was noticed. Water uptake test was carried out by immersing the composite sample in deionized water and it was noticed that water uptake was lower for sugarcane bagasse fiber reinforced PP composite. Transform Infrared Spectroscopy was employed for functional groups analysis of the fabricated composite.