Tensile properties of Kenaf/E-glass reinforced hybrid polypropylene (PP) composites with different fiber loading

Abstract

Kenaf/E-glass reinforced polypropylene (PP) hybrid composites with different fiber loading 20, 25 and 30 (vol. %) were fabricated using a hot compression molding. The effect of the fiber content on the tensile properties of the composites was studied. The ratio of alkali-treated kenaf fiber and untreated E-glass fiber was 20:10 (vol. %). The tensile strength and strain of the composites slightly decreased with the increase of the fiber content, but tensile modulus increased. The presence of voids and inhomogeneous distribution of the fibers led to the change of tensile properties of the composites as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs of the tensile fracture surface.