Enhancing interfacial adhesion performance by using poly(vinyl alcohol) in (low-density polyethylene)/(natural rubber)/(water hyacinth fiber) composites
Date
2013-03Author
Supri, A. Ghani, Dr.
Tan, Soo Jin
Hanafi, Ismail
Teh, Pei Ling
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The effects of (a) the chemical modification of water hyacinth fiber by poly(vinyl alcohol) (WHF-PVA) and (b) loading on the properties of low-density polyethylene (LDPE)/(natural rubber (NR))/(water hyacinth fiber (WHF)) composites were studied. Mechanical properties, water absorption behavior, morphology, and thermal properties were examined; X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopic analysis were done. The results indicated that LDPE/NR/WHF-PVA composites had higher values of tensile strength, Young's modulus, melting temperature, and water absorption resistance but lower elongation at break than LDPE/NR/WHF composites. The LDPE/NR/WHF-PVA composites had better interfacial adhesion between the matrix and the fibers than LDPE/NR/WHF composites, as shown by SEM results. The LDPE/NR/WHF-PVA composites exhibited lower interparticle spacing than LDPE/NR/WHF composites, a feature which enhanced the interparticle interaction between the water hyacinth fibers and the LDPE/NR matrix.