[01] G. M. Arifuzzaman Khan, Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh. [02] S. R. Shahrear Palash, Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh. [03] M. Terano, School of Materials Science, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Nomi, Ishikawa, Japan. [04] M. Shamsul Alam, Polymer Research Laboratory, Department of Applied Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh.

Interest on the field of natural fiber-thermoplastic composite has been considerably increased because of the new environmental legislation to use biodegradable fibers instead of pollution causing synthetic fibers like carbon, glass etc. In this investigation, an attempt was taken to use of inexpensive areka palm leaf fibers (APLF) as reinforcement of polypropylene (PP) composites. Degraded polypropylene (DgPP) was added in composites as a compatibilizer of hydrophilic natural fiber and hydrophobic PP matrix. The mechanical properties (tensile and flexural) of composites were more pronounced with the addition of 5 wt% DgPP. The weight percentage of APLF and PP were varied to get better mechanical strengths of composites. The (tensile and flexural) strengths were increased upto 10 wt% fiber loadings and thereafter decreased whereas the (tensile and flexural) modulus were increased with the increases of fiber loading upto maximum (20 wt%). Hybrid fibers composites were also fabricated with different combinations of APLF, pineapple leaf fiber (PALF), DgPP and PP (5+5+5+85 wt% and 5+10+5+80 wt%). The hybrid fiber composite with (5+5+5+85) wt% combination was exhibited superior mechanical properties than unreinforced PP and other composites. The water absorption properties of the composites were also studied.

Areka Palm Leaf Fiber, Polypropylene, Hybrid Natural Fiber Composites, Mechanical Properties, Water Absorption

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