A STUDY ON EFFECT OF COMPATIBILIZER ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF COCONUT FIBRE REINFORCED LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE COMPOSITES

Abstract

This project aims to evaluate optimized compatibilizer concentration for Coconut fiber reinforced Low density polyethylene (LDPE) composites. Knowing fully well, the need of a compatibilizer, Coconut fiber reinforced LDPE composites were processed without any compatibilizer or interfacial agent with varying / increasing fiber loadings to evaluate the optimum fiber percentage without compatibilizer. This optimized fiber percentage was then used to process Coconut fiber reinforced LDPE composites with varying / increasing amounts of maleic anhydride grafted LDPE as compatibilizer. Optimized compatibilizer concentration and percentage was then evaluated by evaluation of mechanical properties of Coconut fiber reinforced LDPE composites with. compatibilizer and their comparision with LDPE and coconut/LDPE composites without compatibilizer. Raw materials were obtained commercially, and composites were processed by Haake Rheocord. Samples were processed by Texair injection moulding machine, and mechanical properties - Tensile Modulus Tensile Strength, and Flexural Modulus- were evaluated by Lloyds Universal Testing Machine. The mechanical properties of the composites without compatibilizer improved with addition of Coconut fibre and optimum properties were obtained at 20% fibre loading. But the improvement was not significant due to poor adhesion between fibres and matrix. Therefore MAPE was used as a compatibilizer. Varying MAPE concentrations were used at 20% fibre loading to estimate its effect on mechanical properties of composites. Moisture Absorption .in -the composites increased with increasing fiber loading because of hydrophilic nature of fibers, thus resulting in loss of strength of composites. Addition of MAPE reduced the moisture absorption in the composites. Density has also been evaluated. Coconut Fiber / LDPE composites have been successfully processed, and have potential for engineering applications