Sains Malaysiana 48(1)(2019): 173–181

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2019-4801-20

Effect of Alkali Treatment on Interfacial and Mechanical Properties of Kenaf Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Unidirectional Composites

(Kesan Rawatan Alkali kepada Sifat Antara Muka dan Mekanik Komposit Uniarah Serabut Kenaf Memperkukuh Epoksi)

ZILONG REN^1,2,3, CHUNHONG WANG^1,2,3*, QI ZUO^1,2,3, SHERAZ HUSSAIN SIDDIQUE YOUSFANI⁴, NOOR INTAN SAFFINAZ ANUAR^5,6, SARANI ZAKARIA⁵ & XIAOLING LIU⁷

¹School of Textile, Tianjin Polytechnic University, 300387 Tianjin, China

²Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Composite Materials, Tianjin Polytechnic University, 300387 Tianjin, China

³Key Laboratory of Hollow Fiber Membrane Material and Membrane Process of Ministry of Education, Tianjin Polytechnic University, 300387 Tianjin, China

⁴Textile Engineering Department, NED University of Engineering & Technology, 999010 Karachi, Pakistan

⁵Bioresources and Biorefinery Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

⁶Fiber and Biocomposite Centre, Malaysian Timber Industry Board, 42700 Banting, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

⁷Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Nottingham, 315100 Ningbo, China

Received: 19 April 2018/Accepted: 12 September 2018

ABSTRACT

Kenaf fibres demonstrate enormous potential in fibre reinforced composites with the excellent performance and environmental benefits. In this work, kenaf fibres were treated with NaOH at the concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 3%. Effects of the alkaline treatments on the mechanical properties of fibre and interfacial shear properties (IFSS) of the resulted composites were systematically evaluated. In addition, relationship between tensile strength and surface friction coefficient of kenaf fibre was shown. Relationship between tensile strength of fibre and IFSS of composites were explored. They were conducted by correlation analysis method. The results indicated that after NaOH treatment, kenaf fibres has increased in tensile strength, surface roughness, friction coefficient, but decreased in diameter. Tensile properties, flexural properties and water absorption of unidirectional kenaf fibre reinforced epoxy resin composites have improved. IFSS of composite treated at 2% alkali has increased by 10.34%, compared to composites untreated fibres. Correlation analysis indicated that there was no significant correlation between kenaf fibre tensile strength and IFSS of the composite. On the other hand, there was significant correlation between kenaf fibre surface friction and the IFSS of the composite with the correlation coefficient of 0.905.

Keywords: Correlation analysis method; interfacial shear strength (IFSS); NaOH; surface friction

ABSTRAK

Serabut kenaf menunjukkan potensi besar dalam pembuatan komposit diperkuat serabut disebabkan ia mempunyai prestasi cemerlang dan kesan positif kepada alam sekitar. Dalam kajian ini, serabut kenaf dirawat dengan natrium hidroksida (NaOH) pada kepekatan 1%, 2% dan 3%. Kesan rawatan alkali terhadap sifat mekanik serabut dan sifat geseran permukaan (IFSS) daripada komposit yang dihasilkan dinilai secara sistematik. Di samping itu, hubungan antara kekuatan tegangan dan koefisien geseran permukaan serabut kenaf telah dinyatakan. Hubungan antara kekuatan tegangan serabut dan IFSS komposit telah diterokai. Analisis dijalankan melalui kaedah analisis korelasi. Keputusan menunjukkan selepas rawatan NaOH 1%, serabut kenaf meningkat dalam kekuatan tegangan, kekasaran permukaan, koefisien geseran dan penurunan diameter. Sifat tegangan, sifat lentur dan penyerapan air komposit resin epoksi diperkuat serabut menunjukkan peningkatan. IFSS komposit dengan serabut yang dirawat dengan 2% alkali meningkat sebanyak 10.34%, berbanding komposit dengan serabut yang tidak dirawat. Analisis korelasi menunjukkan tiada korelasi yang ketara antara kekuatan tarik serabut kenaf dan IFSS komposit. Sebaliknya, terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara geseran permukaan serabut kenaf dan IFSS komposit dengan koefisien korelasi sebanyak 0.905.

Kata kunci: Kaedah analisis korelasi; kekuatan geseran permukaan (IFSS); NaOH; permukaan geseran

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*Corresponding author; email: cn_wangch@163.com