Performance of Corn Husk Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Biocomposites

Abstract

This paper presented corn husk fiber (CHF) reinforced High Density Polyethylene / Polyolefin Elastomer (HDPE / POE) biocomposites. The biocomposites were prepared by melt blending using Brabender Plasti-Corder Lab-Station internal mixer. The effects of filler content and composition of matrix HDPE/POE on properties of CHF reinforced thermoplastic biocomposites were investigated by measuring mechanical properties and morphology. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break and tensile modulus were measured with the filler content 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% CHF at matrix composition of HDPE/POE 60:40 and 40:60 ratios. The tensile strength of biocomposites at 60:40 ratios was decreased with the increasing of filler content. While the biocomposites at 40:60 ratios showed the lowest tensile strength at 30% filler content.  However, the elongation at break was decreased with increasing of filler content and tensile modulus was increased with the increasing of filler content for both HDPE/POE matrices ratio. The study reveal that the addition of CHF increased the stiffness of HDPE/POE matrix wherein lowering the flexibility of the composites. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) micrograph was used to observe the fibre dispersion, matrix wetting as well as physical interaction between the fiber and the matrix. The results showed that the effects of filler content on mechanical properties and morphology were influenced by CHF.