The present study deals with the effects of fiber loading and alkali treatment (AT) on thermal behavior of a hair fiber (HF)-reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composite. The HF/HDPE-reinforced polymer composite has been prepared through a compression molding technique, which provided optimum thermal stability at 15 wt% of the fiber in the reinforced composite. The thermal stability of the composite has been investigated using a thermal analyzer [thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), derivative thermogravimetric analysis (DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)]. The ATs of HF-reinforced composites have affected the thermal stability of the material, in which the observed optimum thermal stability is 0.25 N AT 15% HF/HDPE-reinforced composites. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tensile test played an important role in the study of the thermal stability of the material. FTIR analysis was used to investigate the chemical groups between the fiber and matrix. The morphology of the fiber is beneficial for the study of the surface treatment effect on the HF. The tensile test examined the optimum strength at 0.25 N AT 15% HF/HDPE composite, and a good relationship between the thermal and mechanical properties was also observed.
This research work investigated the effect of fiber loading and alkali treatment on hair fiber (HF)-reinforced high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composites in terms of mechanical properties and water absorption behavior. The mechanical stability of the composite material was studied by Universal Testing Machine. The alkali treatment of HF-reinforced HDPE composites was responsible for the investigation of the mechanical and water absorption properties. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis were also done for the study of the reinforced polymer composites. The results of the SEM analysis were very helpful for the study of the morphology of the fiber-matrix interface for better/optimum mechanical properties.
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