Physico-Chemical and Thermomechanical Analysis and ‎Characterization of ‎a Thermoplastic Composite Material Reinforced by Washingtonia Filifera Novel Vegetable Fibers

Abstract

In this paper, ‎morphological, physico-chemical and thermal properties investigations‎ are carried out for a ‎novel ‎composite material reinforced by Washingtonia Filifera (WF) palm fibers using a 20 weight (wt) % loading rate. The experimental analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) shows the longitudinal roughness of the surface, which plays a very important role in the adhesion between the WF fibers and the High Density ‎PolyethylenE (HDPE) resin. FTIR tests of the composite (WF 20%/ HDPE) represent out of plane vibrations involving ring and CH2 symmetric bending in cellulose chain.‎ Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Derivative thermogravimetric ‎(DTG) thermal analysis show a thermal stability at 210°C, 2.5% residual mass ‎and 745 °C maximum ‎temperature. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that the ‎crystallinity index is 59.2%, with a size of ‎‎23 nm. Using tensile tests, a Young modulus of 858.6 MPa, ‎17% elongation and a maximum stress of 15 MPa ‎are found. The obtained characteristics of WF reinforced composite are better than those of Bamboo reinforced composites which has been proven to have characteristics superior to those of standard particleboard and medium density fiberboard used mainly in the construction industry.