Kapok/cotton fabric-polypropylene composites

Kapok/cotton fabric has been used as reinforcement for conventional polypropylene and maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene resins. Treating the reinforcement with acetic anhydride and sodium hydroxide has modified the fabric (fibres). Thermal and mechanical properties of the composites were investigated. Results show that fibre modification gives a significant improvement to the thermal properties of the plant fibres, whereas tests on the mechanical properties of the composites showed poor tensile strength. Mercerisation and weathering were found to impart toughness to the materials, with acetylation showing slightly less rigidity compared to other treatments on either the fibre or composites. The modified polypropylene improved the tensile modulus and had the least toughness of the kapok/cotton reinforced composites. MAiPP reinforced with the plant fibres gave better flexural strength and the same flexural modulus at lower fibre content compared with glass fibre reinforced MAiPP.