Effect of epoxidised natural rubber on physical and mechanical properties of kenaf core fibre reinforced polypropylene composites

In this research, the kenaf core fibre (KCF) reinforced polypropylene (KCFRPP) composites were fabricated by melt blending using Brabender internal mixer and compression molding with the presence of different amount of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR). Brittleness had been a problem in engineering materials which caused to be a failure premature in applications. In order to achieve good toughness in composites, the incorporation of rubber phase (ENR) into KCFRPP had been done. Pure polypropylene (PP) matrix was used as a sample control of the composites. Seven samples with different formulations were prepared and undergo some characterizations such as Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy for chemical constituents and tensile test, to determines the mechanical properties by using Universal testing machine (UTM). Water absorption test was also carried out to reveal the physical properties of pure PP and KCFRPP composites with the presence of ENR. Field-Emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was also used to determine the surface morphology of the composite samples after mechanical failure. Overall, the result demonstrated that the increment in ENR content has given a significant improvement in impact related properties (elongation at break) but at the expense of strength and modulus properties. Whilst, the water absorption increased with the increment of ENR content. FESEM morphological studies proved that the presence of matrix fibrillation contributed for increasing of toughness properties of KCFRPP composites, but the existence of fibre pull-out and void contributed to the low strength, modulus and water absorption properties.