Bit coir fiber and sugarcane bagasse fiber reinforced eco-friendly polypropylene composites: Development and property evaluation thereof

Abstract

Waste natural fibers, bit coir fiber residue of traditional coir industries, and sugarcane bagasse fibers were subjected to chemical modifications via alkaline steam explosion treatments toward the extraction of reinforcing fibers with better compatibility and reinforcing characteristics in the polymer matrix. The treated fibers were utilized in the fabrication of composites with polypropylene (PP) as the base polymer with the aid of maleic anhydride–grafted PP as the compatibilizer. Percent composition of fiber in the composites was decided to facilitate maximum replacement of the matrix and further applicability in large-scale continuous polymeric production processes. Mechanical, thermal, and morphological characterization of the composites reveals the best composition to be of 30% composition, in the added view of maximum replacement of polymer matrix with the reinforcing filler, retention of requisite properties, reduced cost of manufacture and inventory, and reduction in the carbon footprint per unit dimensions in comparison with the wholly polymer component. The thermal properties of coir fiber-reinforced composites showed good improvement up to 134.5°C increase in onset degradation temperature while retaining matrix properties for sugarcane bagasse-reinforced composites.