Ceramic sheet hybrid kenaf reinforced polypropylene biocomposites

Abstract

ABSTRACT Hybrid biocomposites are one of the emerging fields in polymer composites. The purpose of this study is the development and characterization of ceramic sheet (CS) hybrid polypropylene (PP) biocomposites for broadening of the field of potential applications of biocomposites. Hybrid PP biocomposites were manufactured with 20 wt % loadings of kenaf and the addition of a CS (single or double sided) by melting and compression molding. The effects of the CS on the mechanical and thermal properties of the hybrid PP biocomposites were analyzed in terms of tensile, flexural, and impact properties, and inflammability, smoke optical density, and toxicity of the combustion gas. Also, the surface morphology of fractured hybrid PP biocomposites was observed by SEM and AFM. In spite of the brittle properties of the ceramic, the mechanical properties of the hybrid PP biocomposites were improved and, also, the inflammability of the hybrid PP biocomposites with the CS was highly improved. As a result, full impregnation of CSs into the kenaf reinforced biocomposite can contribute to the improvement of both the mechanical properties and the inflammability of biocomposites, resulting in a broadening of the field of potential applications of biocomposites such as aerospace. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 1917–1922, 2013