Mechanical, thermal and morphological study of kenaf fibre reinforced RPET/ABS composites

Abstract

In this study kenaf fibre was blended with recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) from a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill to produce a moulded composite material. Due to difficulties in rPET processing and low impact properties, ABS was introduced as impact modifier and stabilizes the rPET processing and improves impact properties of rPET. In 70:30 of rPET: ABS, mechanical properties of the blends were investigated by tensile, flexural and impact testing. There were a slightly decrements in mechanical properties with addition of kenaf fiber. Rheological properties of the blends had also been studied by using Melt Flow Index (MFI) testing. The Differential Scanning Calometric (DSC) was used to investigate melting point temperature (T ) and glass transition temperature (T ) and showed no effect with the addition of kenaf. The distribution effects between rPET/ABS and kenaf were studied through morphological characterization by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The result showed there was increasing of the brittleness of composites when higher percentages of fibre were introduced and kenaf was fully interpenetrated into the composites.