Studies on water absorption of polypropylene/recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/empty fruit bunch composites

Abstract

Water absorption study is important in natural fibres polymer composites since they are hydrophilic in nature. In this study, water absorption properties of thermoplastic elastomer composites with the incorporation of empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibres were examined. The polypropylene (PP) matrix, recycled gloves (NBRr) and EFB fibre were mixed together using a heated two-roll mill machine at 180°C. A compatibilizer of polypropylene maleic anhydride (PPMAH) was added to improve the water resistant properties of the composites. Water absorption test was conducted by long-term immersion in distilled water at room temperature. From the analysis, the percentage of water absorbs for PP/NBRr/EFB composites was increase as the NBRr loading increases. However, it is interesting to observe that the percent of water absorbs from PPMAH compatibilized composites was decreases from 20 % to 15 % with the highest NBRr loading. It shows that PPMAH compatibilizer possibly acts as a protective barrier and enhances the interfacial adhesion between the fibre and matrices.