Properties of recycled polystyrene and coir/pineapple leaf fiber reinforcing

Abstract

This work has studied the properties of polystyrene foam dissolving in essential oil, P-cymene, and reinforced with coir or pineapple leaf fiber. The reinforcing fibers were cut into 30mm length. The weight fraction of polystyrene foam to reinforcement fiber was loaded with different range of 100:0, 100:16.67, 100:25, and 100:50. The three different conditions, including as-cast, aging at 70 °C for 72 hrs., and in the present of hardener at 20% foam weight were investigated. From this study, an increase in the reinforcing fiber has resulted in an increase in water absorption while tensile strength was decreased. In both experimental conditions of as-cast and in the present of hardener, elongation at break and modulus of elasticity were not a significant difference in fiber variable-ratio tested.