Optimisation of Z-blade compounding process for enhanced composite performance

Abstract

Reinforced materials used in composite are developed by replacing the conventional filler with natural fiber such as sisal, flax, bamboo and banana. This research was carried out to investigate the effect of the compounding process conditions for optimum composite performance using Design of Experiment (DOE) approach. Polypropylene composites containing bamboo fiber as filler with different content were prepared by using Z-Blade mixer at different temperature and speed. Polypropylene is modified using Maleic Anhydride Grafted Polypropylene (MAH-g-PP) with 5wt% of filler loading. MAH-g-PP is also known as compatibilizer, used to improve the interfacial bonding of hydrophilic natural filler with hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer. The properties of polymer composites were studied through DOE to study the effect of filler loading, speed and temperature. The addition of compatibilizer on the short-term mechanical properties of PP/BF composites. Tensile test was carried out on the PP/BF composite. The results shows addition of bamboo filler within PP decrease the tensile properties. However, throughout the DOE analysis, it was found the combination of compounding parameter had influence the short-term mechanical properties of PP/BF composite.