Thermal and die electric properties of chemically modified municipal solid waste and banana fiber reinforced polymer composites

Abstract

The thermal and dielectric properties of municipal solid waste (MSW)/banana fiber composites were investigated as a function of total volume fraction of filler (MSW+ banana fiber). The relative volume fraction of MSW/banana fiber and its chemical modification was also investigated. The total volume fraction (Vf) of filler is established by keeping the relative volume fraction of MSW and banana fiber as 50:50. The thermal conductivity of composites decreases with increase of filler ratio. Subsequently, composites with different volume ratios of MSW and banana fiber (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100) were prepared by keeping total Vf of filler as 50%. Low thermal conductivity and diffusivity values were obtained in composites with an MSW and a banana fiber ratio as 50:50. Moreover, chemically modified filler composites show decrease in dielectric constant, dielectric loss factor and an increment in volume resistivity. Experimental dielectric constant values are correlated with theoretical models. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 468–475, 2017