Potentiality of pineapple leaf fibre as reinforcement in PALF-polyester composite: Surface modification and mechanical performance

This paper is an attempt to examine the commercial signficance of an agrowaste "Pineapple Leaf Fibre" (PALF) which is rich in cellulose, relatively inexpensive and has the potential for polymer reinforcement. The quality enhancement of PALF has been tried through different surface modifications like dewaxing, alkali treatment, cyanoethylation and grafting of AN onto dewaxed PALF. The present study investigated the mechanical propeties like tensile, flexural and impact behavior of PALF-reinforced polyester composites as a function of fibre loading and fibre surface modification. The mechanical properties are optimum at a fibre loading of 30 wt%. Among all modifications, 10% AN grafted PALF composite exhibited maximum tensile strength (48.36 MPa) whereas cyanoethylated PALF composite exhibited better flexural and impact strength, i.e., 41% and 27% more than the control (detergent washed composite) respectively. Scanning electron microscopic studies were carried out to understand the fibre-matrix adhesion.