Influence of pineapple leaf particulate on mechanical, thermal and biodegradation characteristics of pineapple leaf fiber reinforced polymer composite

Natural fibers are gaining too much attention and researchers are shifting their interest due to environmental concern and ecological benefits. The present experimental study is focused on the investigation of thermo-mechanical properties of aggro-waste pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) reinforced polymer composite under the influence of pineapple micro-particulate inclusion. For developing the hybrid composites, constant weight fraction (30%) of PALF and five different weight fractions (2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10%) of particulates are taken. The study involves preparation, chemical treatment (with 5% NaOH solution) and characterization (XRD, FTIR and TGA) of micro particulate and results revealed that the treatment of particulate has a better crystalline index and thermal stability which improved their material characterization as well as mechanical and thermal properties. The addition of chemically treated particulates in PALF reinforced polymer composites showed better interfacial bonding between fibers and matrix that enhanced the mechanical and thermal properties of the developed composite. The experimental results showed that 7.5% of particulates inclusion has highest tensile, flexural, compressive and hardness properties with higher plane strain fracture toughness and thermogravimetric analysis while 2.5% of particulate inclusion has highest impact strength. The water absorption and biodegradability tests were also performed and revealed that the addition of particulates has greater water absorption and better biodegradability. The scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphology behaviour with different weight fraction of particulates and also analyzed the fracture behaviour of developed hybrid composites.