Impact Toughness of Kenaf Powder, Polypropylene and Kevlar

摘要

Impact and tensile properties were carried out on Kenaf Powder (K) Polypropylene (PP) reinforced with Kevlar (KV) composites plate prepared in-house using hot press technique. The effect of bonding agent, Maleic Anhydride grafted Polypropylene (MAPP), on the strength and impact toughness was also conducted. The size of kenaf powder used was limited to 100μm. The kenaf/polypropylene composite designated as KPP specimens were tested through tensile test (ASTM D 638) and izod test (ASTM D256) for 20-40% weight ratio of kenaf powder. The optimum weight ratio of KPP sample was selected and then underwent for the drop impact testing. The selected KPP sample was further reinforced with Kevlar cloths. This hybrid composite is designated as KPP/KV sample and further tested in izod impact and drop tests. The impact toughness of KPP reinforced with KV is almost 4-6 times without KV. There are also slight improvements in the impact toughness of the KPP/KV samples with MAPP.