Study on Renewable Resource-based Composites from Agro waste Alpinia galanga Natural Fibers

摘要

Recently there has been a surge of interest in using natural fibers from renewable resources as alternative to replace traditional synthetic fibers. This is due to the increased environmental and sustainability awareness. In this study, high density polyethylene (HDPE) was compounded with untreated and treated agro-waste natural fibers Alpinia galanga. Alkali treatment using sodium hydroxide was used to improve the interface adhesion between fibers and polyethylene matrix. Polyethylene-Alpinia galanga composites were prepared using an injection molding machine at various fiber contents of 3, 6, 10 and 15 wt% and characterized. Experimental studies have shown that in general fibers function as filler in polyethylene composites and exhibited tensile strength relatively close to the strength of the unfilled composites. The increasing of Alpinia galanga content decreased elongation at break and increased the Young’s modulus of Polyethylene-Alpinia galanga composites. It was also observed that treated fiber composites showed higher thermal stability than that of untreated fiber composites.