Effect of Fiber Loading and Alkali Treatment on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Bagasse Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites

Natural fiber as a reinforcing agent plays a dominant role in the field of composite due to its eco-friendliness and renewable nature with low density and cost. Bagasse (sugarcane) has the potential to serve as an alternative reinforcement in composite materials. Bagasse fiber was treated with sodium hydroxide. Randomly oriented raw and treated bagasse fiber reinforced polypropylene matrix composites were produced using hot compression machine under specific pressure and temperature at different fiber loading. Mechanical tests and structural analysis were subsequently performed. The mechanical properties (except tensile strength) of the composites increased with increasing fiber content, while composites prepared from chemically treated fiber are found to be much better compared to those of untreated ones. Scanning electron microscopic analysis indicated better wetting of fiber by the matrix in case of treated fiber composite compared to raw fiber composite. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic showed elimination of hemi-cellulose from bagasse fiber after sodium hydroxide treatment.