Sains Malaysiana 47(4)(2018): 699-705

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2018-4704-07

The Effect of Alkaline Treatment on the Mechanical Properties of Treated Sugar Palm Yarn Fibre Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composites Reinforced with Different Fibre Loadings of Sugar Palm Fibre

(Kesan Rawatan Alkali terhadap Sifat Mekanikal Serabut Kabung Yarn Terawat Diperkuat dengan Komposit Poliester tak Tepu Diperkuat dengan Pembebanan Berbeza Serabut Kabung)

MOHD NURAZZI NORIZAN¹, KHALINA ABDAN^1,2*, MOHD SAPUAN SALIT^1,2 & RAHMAH MOHAMED³

¹Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

²Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP), Universiti Putra Malaysia,

43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

³Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 40450, Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Received: 27 February 2015/Accepted: 15 June 2017

ABSTRACT

The aim of this paper was to describe the effects of treated sugar palm yarn fibre loading on the mechanical properties of reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. Composites with varying fibre loads (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 wt. %) were prepared using a hand-layup process. The composites were tested for tensile, flexural and impact strength according to ASTM D3930, ASTM D790 and ASTM D256 standards, respectively. The results showed that an increase in fibre loading of up to 30 wt. % increased tensile strength (31.27 MPa), tensile modulus (4.83 GPa), flexural strength (58.14 MPa) and modulus (4.48 GPa). Maximum loading can be attained at 40 wt. % of fibre loading for impact strength (38 kJ/m²). The effectiveness of stress transfer mechanism through the fibre-matrix interaction, coupled with the optimization of fibre loading in resisting fracture and failure, boosts the overall mechanical performance of sugar palm composite.

Keywords: Alkaline treatment; fibre loadings; mechanical properties; sugar palm; unsaturated polyester

ABSTRAK

Matlamat kajian ini adalah untuk menerangkan kesan muatan serabut kabung terawat terhadap sifat mekanikal komposit poliester tak tepu diperkuat. Komposit dengan muatan serabut yang berbeza (10, 20, 30, 40 dan 50 % bt.) disediakan menggunakan proses layup tangan. Komposit ini diuji untuk kekuatan tegangan, lenturan dan hentaman mengikut piawai ASTM D3930, ASTM D790 dan ASTM D256. Analisis menunjukkan dengan peningkatan muatan serabut sehingga 30 % bt. akan meningkatkan kekuatan tegangan (31.27 MPa), modulus tegangan (4.83 GPa), kekuatan lenturan (58.14 MPa) dan modulus (4.48 GPa). Muatan maksimum dapat diperoleh pada 40 % bt. muatan serabut dengan kekuatan hentaman (38 kJ/m²). Keberkesanan mekanisme pemindahan tekanan melalui interaksi matriks-serabut, digabungkan dengan pengoptimuman muatan serabut dalam rintangan retakan dan kerosakan, meningkatkan keseluruhan prestasi mekanikal untuk komposit kabung.

Kata kunci: Kabung; muatan serabut; poliester tak tepu; rawatan alkali; sifat mekanikal

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*Corresponding author; email: khalina.upm@gmail.com