The effect of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) on Polypropylene (PP) / Recycled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBRr) / Palm Pressed Fibre (PPF) composite

Abstract

The effect of sodium hydroxide treatment on the performance of Palm Pressed Fibre (PPF) filled polypropylene (PP)/recycled Acrylonitrile Butadiene rubber (NBRr) bio-composites were investigated. Polypropylene/recycled Acrylonitrile Butadiene rubber/Palm Pressed Fibre powder (PP/NBRr/PPF) composite were prepared by melt mixing technique at 180° C for 9 minutes and 50 rpm rotor speed using an internal mixer. Five different composites compositions (70/30/5, 70/30/10, 70,30/15, 70/30/20, 70/30/25 and 70/30/30), while NaOH treated PPF (treated) and without treated NaOH treatment (untreated) was studied. The specimens were analysed by different techniques i.e. tensile test, Fourier Transform Infra-Red analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results obtained showed that tensile strength and elongation at break of both composites decreased with the increasing amount of PPF content. However, composites with NaOH treated PPF indicated higher values than the untreated composites. Young modulus for both composites showed an increase with PPF content and improved with NaOH treated PPF composites. The morphology results support the tensile properties which indicated better interaction between the filler and matrix for treated composites.