Thermoplastic Elastomer composite using Benzyl Chloride Treatment on Kenaf Core Powder Mixing with Polypropylene and Virgin Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber

Abstract

The thermoplastic elastomer composite based tensile properties and morphology of kenaf core power (KCP) treated with benzoyl chloride filled polypropylene (PP)/virgin acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (vNBR) composites were aim and investigated. The composites with different KCP loading from 0 wt % to 30 wt % with constant PP and vNBR (70 wt% and 30 wt%) were prepared using heated two-roll mill by melt mixing at temperature of 180 °C. Tensile properties of composites which is tensile strength, Young's Modulus and elongation at break were investigated. The morphology of filler and composites were investigated using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The result shown, the tensile strength, elongation at break and Young's modulus of treated composites have higher by 4 - 14 %, 4 - 13 % and 0.5 - 3 % respectively compare untreated composite. These findings were supported by micrograph diagram from the morphological study. KCP filler treated with benzoyl chloride has improved the adhesion and gave strong interfacial bonding between KCP filler and PP/vNBRr matrices which results in good tensile strength of composites.