Sunnhemp Fiber-reinforced Waste Polyethylene Bag Composites

Abstract

The present article expounds the development of sunnhemp fiber-reinforced waste polyethylene bag composites. No surface modifications of fibers were made. Sunnhemp fibers of 25.4 mm in length with waste polyethylene bags were stacked and composite materials were fabricated using hot compression molding technique. These composites were prepared at different fiber volume fraction (Vf) varying from 0.10 to 0.50. Mechanical properties at different volume fractions of fibers were investigated. The tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, and flexural modulus of composites containing upto 0.30 Vf were found to increase linearly with Vf and the results showed good agreement with the rule of mixtures. However, beyond 0.30 Vf there was a significant deterioration in the mechanical properties. The work of fracture determined by Izod impact test shows increased impact strength with increased fiber volume fraction up to 0.20 and then a decrease thereafter. The result of this study suggests that sunnhemp fibers have potential as reinforcing material in waste polyethylene bags to produce inexpensive thermoplastic composite materials with a high toughness for various applications like door panels, furniture, packaging, etc. Thus environmental pollution due to waste polyethylene bags can be minimized.