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Exfoliated graphene nanoplatelets (3 phr) were incorporated into polypropylene with increasing concentration of treated and untreated kenaf flour 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 wt%, respectively, and prepared via melt-extrusion using corotating twin screw extruder. The resulting nanocomposites were characterized in terms of electrical, thermomechanical, thermal conductivity, thermal behavior, heat deflection temperature (HDT), and mechanical, morphological, and structural properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic results demonstrate that the fibers interacted with the matrix and affected the mechanical behavior. The effective thermal conductivities decreased with increasing fiber content, while HDT of the nanocomposites was found to significantly increase, respectively. The electrical properties decreased with increasing fiber content. However, despite the decline in electrical conductivity, the composites were still relatively conductive for applications such as sensors and electromagnetic shielding after fiber inclusion.

Very recently emerging trends in polymer nanotechnology has revealed tremendous upsurge in application of graphene and derivatives in development of multifunctional nanocomposites. In present work, recycled polypropylene filled with increasing concentration of kenaf flour modified with sodium hydroxide/cetyl-trimethylammonium bromide (C-TAB) and filled with 3-phr graphene nanoplatelets (xGNP) hybrid nanocomposites were compatibilized using maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene and prepared via melt-intercalation using co-rotating twin-screw extruder subsequented by injection molding. The mechanical and morphological properties of NaOH-C-TAB modified materials (T-KRPPG) were studied and compared with untreated (U-KRPPG) samples. Transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were applied in characterizing the microstructure and morphology of the materials. Mechanical tests revealed that tensile strength of T-KRPPG nanocomposites were superior in comparison with untreated (U-KRPPG) samples. In addition, the flexural strength, flexural modulus, and Young's modulus of C-TAB treated kenaf xGNP (T-KRPPG) nanocomposites were superior in comparison with the untreated (U-KRPPG) samples. The morphological images of the tensile fractured surface of modified T-KRPPG nanocomposites revealed reduction of microholes and fibres aggregation signifying enhanced xGNPfiber-matrix inter-facial adhesion due to kenaf flour modification with NaOH/C-TAB. XRD analysis revealed exfoliation and homogeneous separation of xGNP in matrix. FTIR analysis revealed no variations in peak positions of xGNP to suggest any significant chemical interactions between xGNP and other componenets.

Employee performance is vital to all business enterprises in both developed and developing economies. The increase in the rate of business failure, closure and employees' poor performance in terms of productivity in Nigeria is alarming. For organization to be sustained, employees have crucial roles to play in order to ensure that organizations attain competitive advantage over the competitors across the globe. The study examined the recruitment and selection strategy on the employee performance in the real sector using descriptive survey research design. The inferential statistics used is the "one sample T-test" to find the level of relationship between recruitment/selection strategy and employee performance. The study revealed that the use of recruitment agency and internal employee recommendation in the recruitment/selection process enables organization to recruit committed and productive employees while the recruitment through the influence of host community leads to organizational inefficiency. The study therefore, recommends that Organizations can make use of employment agencies in the act of recruitment and selection but should be open to disclose the job description and responsibility to them. Acceptance of referred candidates from committed and active employees for employment was also recommended as it enhances mentoring, monitoring, obedience and coaching among employees. It was also advised that recruitment/selection should be based on the capability of the candidates to perform the job responsibilities than consideration based on host community influences.