Environmental Degradation of Durian Skin Nanofibre Biocomposite

Abstract

To come up with a biodegradable alternative in reducing the use of polymer-based materials, polypropylene (PP) and durian skin nanofibre (DSNF) were melt-blended in a Haake internal mixer before compression moulded into composite specimens. The composites were exposed under ultraviolet (UV) radiation to simulate the effect of sunlight. The significant effect of maleic anhydride polypropylene (MAPP) was observed by the improvement recorded in tensile properties and reduction of water absorption in PP/DSNF composite. The colour index of composites increased with UV radiation exposure. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images showed DSNF was well-dispersed in PP matrix in the presence of MAPP.