Open Access

ARTICLE

The Role of Bamboo Nanoparticles in Kenaf Fiber Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composites

Enih Rosamah¹, Abdul Khalil H.P.S.^2*, S.W. Yap², Chaturbhuj K. Saurabh², Paridah M. Tahir³, Rudi Dungani⁴, Abdulwahab F. Owolabi²

1 Faculty of Forestry, Mulawarman University, Campus Gunung Kelua, Samarinda 75119, East Kalimantan, Indonesia
2 School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Penang, Malaysia
3 Laboratory of Biocomposite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry & Forest Products, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Malaysia
4 School of Life Sciences and Technology, Gandung Labtex XI, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia

*Corresponding author:

Journal of Renewable Materials 2018, 6(1), 75-86. https://doi.org/10.7569/JRM.2017.634152

Abstract

In this study, bamboo nanoparticles in concentration ranges from 0–5% were incorporated along with woven/nonwoven kenaf fiber mat into unsaturated polyester and the developed composites were further characterized. Bamboo chips were subjected to ball milling process for the synthesis of nanoparticles with a particle size of 52.92 nm. The effect that the incorporation of nanoparticles had on various properties of reinforced composites was further observed. Due to the high surface area of nanoparticles, incorporation of 3% of nanofillers contributed towards strong bonding and better wettability with matrix, thus resulting in excellent mechanical properties and thermal characteristics in reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. Furthermore, mechanical characteristics of reinforced composites were deteriorated by the addition of a higher percentage of nanoparticles (>3%) due to agglomeration, as confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, ordered structural arrangement of woven kenaf textile fiber showed enhancement in interfacial adhesion and promoted superior mechanical strength in reinforced composites as compared with nonwoven composites.

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Keywords

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