THE EFFECT OF BAGASSE AS FILLER ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF FIBER REINFORCED PLASTIC COMPOSITES

摘要

This study is an attempt to investigate the feasibility of using bagasse fiber as reinforcing filler to manufacture experimental composite panels. Using bagasse fiber as the filler and polypropylene as the thermoplastic matrix polymer, a reinforced composite was prepared, and its mechanical properties examined as a function of the amount of compatibilizing agents used. In the sample preparation, four levels of fiber loading (10, 20, 30 and 40 wt%) and two levels of maleated polypropylenes (MAPP) content (0 and 3 wt%) as compatibilizing agents were used. The tensile and flexural properties of the composites improved as the fiber loading and the compatibilizing agent increased, but the impact strength was decreased. The findings indicated that bagasse as agro-waste material is a valuable renewable natural resource for composite production and could be utilized as a substitute for wood in composite industries.