Effect of Kenaf Fibre Layers on Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Kenaf/Unsaturated Polyester Composites

Abstract

Composites of kenaf/unsaturated polyester containing 1layer up to 4 layers of kenaf fibre were studied to evaluate the mechanical and thermal properties. These composites were compared with a control system containing unsaturated polyester. The composite of different fibre layers was prepared using compression moulding techniques. The composites with x layers had the lowest tensile strength with slightly higher flexibility compared with those systems containing higher number of layers. The tensile properties of composites containing x layers demonstrated that the addition of fibre to the kenaf/unsaturated polyester composite was affected more than the incorporation of the. Thermogravimetric analysis of pure kenaf, unsaturated polyester and unsaturated polyester composite incorporated with 1, 2, 3 and 4 layers revealed significant differences in the decomposition temperature. Analysis by differential scanning calorimetry, equally, showed a decrease in thermal transitions with the 1 through 4layers. The results of the mechanical and thermal properties tests suggest that kenaf fibres improved the composite mechanical and thermal properties.