The purpose of this study was to develop effective green insulation boards fabricated from polyurethane (PU) reinforced with Kenaf fibres. Biocomposites having three different weight contents (40/60, 50/50 and 60/40 Kenaf/PU weight %) were manufactured. A fourth type was made from 60/40 NaOH-treated Kenaf/ PU weight %. The results show that the elastic properties increased with Kenaf fibre content. The optimal performance was observed at a weight of 50% Kenaf fibres. Furthermore, the minimum water absorption percentage, thickness swelling, and changing in volume were recorded at a weight of 50% kenaf fibres.
This paper presents the results of three different fibers, Kenaf (hibiscus cannabinus), oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and abaca (Musa textilis) which were treated using 5 different types of surface treatments namely sodium hydroxide for 24 hours, glycidoxypropyltrimethoxy-silane for 24 hours, NaOH followed by Silane (each 24 hours), NaOH followed by Silane (each 12 hours) and NaOH followed by Silane (each 6 hours). The mechanical strength of the fibers were then studied and compared to the untreated fibers. The highest strength was given by the fibers treated with NaOH followed by the combined treatments and the lowest were the fibers treated with silane. Also the bonding strength between the fibers and unsaturated polyester resin were then evaluated using micro droplet pull out tests. It was proven that all the treatments improved on the bonding strength. The highest was silane followed by NaOH. For the combined treatments it was found that the highest IFSS was given by the lowest treatment duration at 6 hours, due to the alkali nature of NaOH corroding the fibers which were then filled with silane, thus losing the ability to properly bond with the resin. The samples were also then characterized using a SEM to check the surface morphology which revealed that the NaOH reduced the diameter by removing impurities and lignin, thus increasing the aspect ratio. While silane coats the surface, increases the diameter and reduces the aspect ratio. Keywords. Kenaf, Abaca, OPF, Chemical Treatment, Bonding Strength, Droplet Test, SEM
The aim of this study was to investigate the thermal performance, water absorption and dimension stability against water of the green insulation boards. The results show that the thermal conductivity decreased with increasing fibre contents and reached its minimum value (0.0535 w/mk) for the 60/40 kenaf / PU weight %. Contrarily, thermal resistance increased with increasing fibres contents, up to its maximum value (0.09 k.m2/w) for the 60/40 kenaf / PU weight %. The minimum water absorption percentage and thickness swelling were recorded at a weight of 50% kenaf fibres. The effects of the alkaline treatment were significant enough to increase the thermal conductivity.
The purpose of this study was to develop effective green insulation boards fabricated from polyurethane (PU) reinforced with Kenaf fibres. Biocomposites having three different weight contents (40/60, 50/50 and 60/40 Kenaf / PU weight %) were manufactured. A fourth type was made from 60/40 NaOH-treated Kenaf / PU weight %. The results show that the elastic properties increased with Kenaf fibre content. The optimal performance was observed at a weight of 50% Kenaf fibres. In addition, kenaf fibres treated with NaOH exhibited significantly improved mechanical properties.
Different grades of sisal fibres (S3, STOW, and SUG) were immersed in five different treatment solutions: sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for 24 h; silane for 24 h; and NaOH followed by silane for 6, 12, and 24 h. The treated fibres were tested for bonding strength using the micro-droplet method. It was established that NaOH and silane treatments improved bonding strength with the unsaturated polyester resin that was used. However, it can be concluded that NaOH followed by silane (each for 6 h) produced the highest bonding strength compared with the other combined treatments. This is most likely because of fibre erosion caused by the chemicals in the other treatments, which causes fibres to lose the ability to bond with the resin. Fibres treated with silane had the highest bonding strength. The tensile mechanical properties, characterised using the single-fibre test method according to the ASTM standard C1557-03 (2008), showed that the NaOH treatment improved ultimate tensile strength, while the silane treatment decreased ultimate tensile strength for all sisal grades. Nevertheless, the ultimate tensile strength was reduced when the duration of the combined treatments was increased. The highest results for the mechanical properties were obtained from the combined treatments of NaOH followed by silane (each for 6 h).
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