Synthetic fibers (such as carbon, glass, ceramic fibers, etc.) are a cause of environmental concern, so natural fibers (such as vetiver, calotropis gigantea, flax, hemp, jute, etc.) are extensively used. In this study, the compression molding process was used to improve low-density polyethylene (LDPE) matrix composites reinforced with vetiver fiber (VF). Experiments were conducted by varying VF length, VF content, and fiber treatment time. The composites' static mechanical characteristics, including their tensile strength, tensile modulus, impact strength, compressive strength, compressive modulus and fracture toughness, were examined. Experimental results reveal that the static mechanical properties of composites increase with increasing VF length and VF content. The static mechanical properties show their maximum value at 5 mm VF length and 20 wt% of VF content. Conversely, as VF length and content grow, so does tensile modulus.  The effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on VF are also studied at different concentrations, fiber sizes, and duration of treatment. Improvements in interfacial adherence between VFs and LDPE matrix have been found to improve the mechanical properties of SDS treatment composites, but the degree of improvement has been found to be dependent on the improvement of interfacial adhesions during SDS treatment improves mechanical properties. The composites reinforced with 20 weight percent fiber content, 5 mm in length, and 6 hours showed the best mechanical properties. Using a scanning electron microscope, morphological analysis is also carried out to track the fiber pull-out and fracture behavior of the composites.

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1. Zaman HU. Chemically modified coir fiber reinforced polypropylene composites for furniture applications. Int Res J Mod Eng Technol Sci. 2020;2(12):975-82.
2. Zaman HU, Khan RA. Biocomposites from Abaca Strands and Polypropylene: Effect of Chemical Treatment by Stearic Acid. J Eng Appl Sci. 2020;5:126-34.
3. Zaman HU, Khan RA. Effect of surface treatment on the mechanical features of Lady’s Finger fibers reinforced polymer composites. Int J Res Publ Rev. 2021;2(6):150-7.
4. Bledzki A, Gassan J. Composites reinforced with cellulose-based fibres. Prog Polym Sci. 1999;24(2):221-74.
5. Vinayagamoorthy R, Rajeswari N. Mechanical performance studies on Vetiveria zizanioides/jute/glass fiber-reinforced hybrid polymeric composites. J Reinf Plast Compos. 2014;33(1):81-92.
6. Ruksakulpiwat Y, Suppakarn N, Sutapun W, Thomthong W. Vetiver-polypropylene composites: Physical and mechanical properties. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf. 2007;38(2):590-601.
7. Yao F, Wu Q, Lei Y, Xu Y. Rice straw fiber-reinforced high-density polyethylene composite: Effect of fiber type and loading. Ind Crops Prod. 2008;28(1):63-72.
8. Yemele MCN, Koubaa A, Cloutier A, Soulounganga P, Wolcott M. Effect of bark fiber content and size on the mechanical properties of bark/HDPE composites. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf. 2010;41(1):131-7.
9. Saheb DN, Jog JP. Natural fiber polymer composites: A review. Adv Polym Technol. 1999;18(4):351-63.
10. Dannenberg EM. Filler choices in the rubber industry: the incumbents and some new candidates. Elastomerics. 1981;113(12):30-50.
11. Kraus AIM, Mark JE, Erman B, Eirich FR. Reinforcement of elastomers by particulate fillers. In: Science and Technology of Rubber. 2nd ed. San Diego, CA: Academic Press; 1994.
12. Tserki V, Matzinos P, Kokkou S, Panayiotou C. Novel biodegradable composites based on treated lignocellulosic waste flour as filler. Part I. Surface chemical modification and characterization of waste flour. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf. 2005;36(7):965-74.
13. Zaman HU, Khan RA. Surface modified benzoylated okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) bast fiber reinforced polypropylene composites. Adv J Sci Eng. 2022;3(1):7-17.
14. Zaman HU, Khan RA. Effect of fiber surface modifications on the properties of snake grass fiber reinforced polypropylene bio-composites. J Adhes Sci Technol. 2021:1-19.
15. Zaman HU, Khan RA, Chowdhury A. The improvement of physicomechanical, flame retardant, and thermal properties of lignocellulosic material filled polymer composites. J Thermoplast Compos Mater. 2023;36(3):1034-50.
16. Zheng J, Zhou X. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-modified carbon paste electrodes for selective determination of dopamine in the presence of ascorbic acid. Bioelectrochemistry. 2007;70(2):408-15.
17. Chun KS, Husseinsyah S, Azizi FN. Characterization and properties of recycled polypropylene/coconut shell powder composites: Effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate modification. Polym Plast Technol Eng. 2013;52(3):287-94.
18. Amri F, Husseinsyah S, Hussin K. Effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate on mechanical and thermal properties of polypropylene/chitosan composites. J Thermoplast Compos Mater. 2013;26(7):878-92.
19. Chun KS, Husseinsyah S. Agrowaste-based composites from cocoa pod husk and polypropylene: Effect of filler content and chemical treatment. J Thermoplast Compos Mater. 2016;29(10):1332-51.
20. Zaman HU, Khan RA. Surface modified benzoylated okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) bast fiber reinforced polypropylene composites. Adv J Sci Eng. 2022;3(1):7-17.
21. Siddika S, Mansura F, Hasan M. Physico-mechanical properties of jute-coir fiber reinforced hybrid polypropylene composites. Eng Technol. 2013;73:1145-9.
22. Caraschi JC, Leão AL. Woodflour as reinforcement of polypropylene. Mater Res. 2002;5(4):405-9.
23. Mohammed L, Ansell MP, Pickering K. Effect of chemical treatment on oil palm fibre/epoxy composites. Int J Sci Eng Technol. 2015;3:322-7.
24. Srinivasababu N. An overview of okra fibre reinforced polymer composites. IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng. 2015;83(1):1-12.
25. Parida C, Dash SK, Das SC. Effect of fiber treatment and fiber loading on mechanical properties of luffa-resorcinol composites. Indian J Mater Sci. 2015;5:1-6.
26. Kumar KS, Nair CR, Ninan K. Effect of fiber length and composition on mechanical properties of carbon fiber‐reinforced polybenzoxazine. Polym Adv Technol. 2008;19(7):895-904.
27. Venkateshwaran N, Perumal AE, Arunsundaranayagam D. Fiber surface treatment and its effect on mechanical and visco-elastic behaviour of banana/epoxy composite. Mater Des. 2013;47:151-9.
28. Kumar A, Gupta MK, Srivastava R, Singh H. Viscoelastic properties and fracture toughness of hybrid polymer composite using Banana/Sisal fiber. Int J Adv Res Sci Eng. 2014;3:1-9.

Synthetic fibers (such as carbon, glass, ceramic fibers, etc.) are a cause of environmental concern, so natural fibers (such as vetiver, calotropis gigantea, flax, hemp, jute, etc.) are extensively used. In this study, the compression molding process was used to improve low-density polyethylene (LDPE) matrix composites reinforced with vetiver fiber (VF). Experiments were conducted by varying VF length, VF content, and fiber treatment time. The composites' static mechanical characteristics, including their tensile strength, tensile modulus, impact strength, compressive strength, compressive modulus and fracture toughness, were examined. Experimental results reveal that the static mechanical properties of composites increase with increasing VF length and VF content. The static mechanical properties show their maximum value at 5 mm VF length and 20 wt% of VF content. Conversely, as VF length and content grow, so does tensile modulus.  The effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on VF are also studied at different concentrations, fiber sizes, and duration of treatment. Improvements in interfacial adherence between VFs and LDPE matrix have been found to improve the mechanical properties of SDS treatment composites, but the degree of improvement has been found to be dependent on the improvement of interfacial adhesions during SDS treatment improves mechanical properties. The composites reinforced with 20 weight percent fiber content, 5 mm in length, and 6 hours showed the best mechanical properties. Using a scanning electron microscope, morphological analysis is also carried out to track the fiber pull-out and fracture behavior of the composites.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Zaman HU. Chemically modified coir fiber reinforced polypropylene composites for furniture applications. Int Res J Mod Eng Technol Sci. 2020;2(12):975-82.
2. Zaman HU, Khan RA. Biocomposites from Abaca Strands and Polypropylene: Effect of Chemical Treatment by Stearic Acid. J Eng Appl Sci. 2020;5:126-34.
3. Zaman HU, Khan RA. Effect of surface treatment on the mechanical features of Lady’s Finger fibers reinforced polymer composites. Int J Res Publ Rev. 2021;2(6):150-7.
4. Bledzki A, Gassan J. Composites reinforced with cellulose-based fibres. Prog Polym Sci. 1999;24(2):221-74.
5. Vinayagamoorthy R, Rajeswari N. Mechanical performance studies on Vetiveria zizanioides/jute/glass fiber-reinforced hybrid polymeric composites. J Reinf Plast Compos. 2014;33(1):81-92.
6. Ruksakulpiwat Y, Suppakarn N, Sutapun W, Thomthong W. Vetiver-polypropylene composites: Physical and mechanical properties. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf. 2007;38(2):590-601.
7. Yao F, Wu Q, Lei Y, Xu Y. Rice straw fiber-reinforced high-density polyethylene composite: Effect of fiber type and loading. Ind Crops Prod. 2008;28(1):63-72.
8. Yemele MCN, Koubaa A, Cloutier A, Soulounganga P, Wolcott M. Effect of bark fiber content and size on the mechanical properties of bark/HDPE composites. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf. 2010;41(1):131-7.
9. Saheb DN, Jog JP. Natural fiber polymer composites: A review. Adv Polym Technol. 1999;18(4):351-63.
10. Dannenberg EM. Filler choices in the rubber industry: the incumbents and some new candidates. Elastomerics. 1981;113(12):30-50.
11. Kraus AIM, Mark JE, Erman B, Eirich FR. Reinforcement of elastomers by particulate fillers. In: Science and Technology of Rubber. 2nd ed. San Diego, CA: Academic Press; 1994.
12. Tserki V, Matzinos P, Kokkou S, Panayiotou C. Novel biodegradable composites based on treated lignocellulosic waste flour as filler. Part I. Surface chemical modification and characterization of waste flour. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf. 2005;36(7):965-74.
13. Zaman HU, Khan RA. Surface modified benzoylated okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) bast fiber reinforced polypropylene composites. Adv J Sci Eng. 2022;3(1):7-17.
14. Zaman HU, Khan RA. Effect of fiber surface modifications on the properties of snake grass fiber reinforced polypropylene bio-composites. J Adhes Sci Technol. 2021:1-19.
15. Zaman HU, Khan RA, Chowdhury A. The improvement of physicomechanical, flame retardant, and thermal properties of lignocellulosic material filled polymer composites. J Thermoplast Compos Mater. 2023;36(3):1034-50.
16. Zheng J, Zhou X. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-modified carbon paste electrodes for selective determination of dopamine in the presence of ascorbic acid. Bioelectrochemistry. 2007;70(2):408-15.
17. Chun KS, Husseinsyah S, Azizi FN. Characterization and properties of recycled polypropylene/coconut shell powder composites: Effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate modification. Polym Plast Technol Eng. 2013;52(3):287-94.
18. Amri F, Husseinsyah S, Hussin K. Effect of sodium dodecyl sulfate on mechanical and thermal properties of polypropylene/chitosan composites. J Thermoplast Compos Mater. 2013;26(7):878-92.
19. Chun KS, Husseinsyah S. Agrowaste-based composites from cocoa pod husk and polypropylene: Effect of filler content and chemical treatment. J Thermoplast Compos Mater. 2016;29(10):1332-51.
20. Zaman HU, Khan RA. Surface modified benzoylated okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) bast fiber reinforced polypropylene composites. Adv J Sci Eng. 2022;3(1):7-17.
21. Siddika S, Mansura F, Hasan M. Physico-mechanical properties of jute-coir fiber reinforced hybrid polypropylene composites. Eng Technol. 2013;73:1145-9.
22. Caraschi JC, Leão AL. Woodflour as reinforcement of polypropylene. Mater Res. 2002;5(4):405-9.
23. Mohammed L, Ansell MP, Pickering K. Effect of chemical treatment on oil palm fibre/epoxy composites. Int J Sci Eng Technol. 2015;3:322-7.
24. Srinivasababu N. An overview of okra fibre reinforced polymer composites. IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng. 2015;83(1):1-12.
25. Parida C, Dash SK, Das SC. Effect of fiber treatment and fiber loading on mechanical properties of luffa-resorcinol composites. Indian J Mater Sci. 2015;5:1-6.
26. Kumar KS, Nair CR, Ninan K. Effect of fiber length and composition on mechanical properties of carbon fiber‐reinforced polybenzoxazine. Polym Adv Technol. 2008;19(7):895-904.
27. Venkateshwaran N, Perumal AE, Arunsundaranayagam D. Fiber surface treatment and its effect on mechanical and visco-elastic behaviour of banana/epoxy composite. Mater Des. 2013;47:151-9.
28. Kumar A, Gupta MK, Srivastava R, Singh H. Viscoelastic properties and fracture toughness of hybrid polymer composite using Banana/Sisal fiber. Int J Adv Res Sci Eng. 2014;3:1-9.