Mechanical Characterization, Water Absorption, and Thickness Swelling of Lightweight Pineapple Leaf/Ramie Fabric-Reinforced Polypropylene Hybrid Composites

• Published in: Polymers Vol. 16; no. 13; p. 1847
• Main Authors: Ng, Lin Feng, Yahya, Mohd Yazid, Muthukumar, Chandrasekar, Parameswaranpillai, Jyotishkumar, Ma, Quanjin, Muhammad Asyraf, Muhammad Rizal, Abdul Majid, Rohah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 28.06.2024
• Subjects: Cellulose; Composite materials; Construction industry; Emission standards; Energy consumption; Fiber composites; Fiber reinforced polymers; Hot pressing; Hybrid composites; Hybridization; Impact strength; Investigations; Laminates; Lignin; Lignocellulose; Material properties; Mechanical properties; Moisture absorption; pineapple leaf fiber; Pineapples; Polymer matrix composites; Polypropylene; ramie fiber; Swelling; Textile composites; Thickness; Vegetable fibers; Water; Water absorption; woven fabric; pineapple leaf fiber; water absorption; fiber stacking configuration; hybrid composites; woven fabric; mechanical properties; thickness swelling; ramie fiber
• DOI: 10.3390/polym16131847
• ISSN: 2073-4360

Fiber-reinforced composites are among the recognized competing materials in various engineering applications. Ramie and pineapple leaf fibers are fascinating natural fibers due to their remarkable material properties. This research study aims to unveil the viability of hybridizing two kinds of lignocellulosic plant fiber fabrics in polymer composites. In this work, the hybrid composites were prepared with the aid of the hot compression technique. The mechanical, water-absorbing, and thickness swelling properties of ramie and pineapple leaf fiber fabric-reinforced polypropylene hybrid composites were identified. A comparison was made between non-hybrid and hybrid composites to demonstrate the hybridization effect. According to the findings, hybrid composites, particularly those containing ramie fiber as a skin layer, showed a prominent increase in mechanical strength. In comparison with non-hybrid pineapple leaf fabric-reinforced composites, the tensile, flexural, and Charpy impact strengths were enhanced by 52.10%, 18.78%, and 166.60%, respectively, when the outermost pineapple leaf fiber layers were superseded with ramie fabric. However, increasing the pineapple leaf fiber content reduced the water absorption and thickness swelling of the hybrid composites. Undeniably, these findings highlight the potential of hybrid composites to reach a balance in mechanical properties and water absorption while possessing eco-friendly characteristics.