Flexural Properties of Kenaf Fibre Mat Reinforced PLA Composites

The potential use of natural biopolymer composites in a variety of applications that requires biodegradability and better mechanical properties has renewed many researchers interest on the composites. This research involves the analysis of flexural properties for natural fibers specifically kenaffiber mat in a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix (KMPLA). The polylactic acid has been chosen as a matrix because it is a biodegradable thermoplastic and is one of the most commercially used. The main objective of this research is to investigate the effect of different temperature condition and pressing time for the kenaf fibre mat reinforced PLA flexural properties. Several samples were prepared for each of the test parameters by mixing PLA with plasticizer and molded with kenaf mat by a hot pressing method. During the fabrication process, triacetate glycerol was used as a plasticizer in order to improve the adhesion between kenaf fibers and matrix. The flexural tests were conducted using Instron Universal Testing Machine. From the result obtained, biopolymer composites samples with pressing temperature of 200C for 7 minutes hot pressing time gives a better optimum flexural properties. In conclusion, the flexural properties test indicates that kenaf fiber mat was suitable as reinforcement in PLA composite.