Factorial study of material and process parameters on the mechanical properties of extruded kenaf fibre/polypropylene composite sheets

摘要: Abstract Thin kenaf/polypropylene (PP) composite sheets were manufactured via extrusion. The effects of kenaf and maleated PP (MAPP) proportions, fibre length, melt flow index (MFI) die temperature on tensile, flexural, in-plane out-of-plane shear properties analysed by conducting experiments through ‘design experiments’ methodology. Higher content lower die/barrel temperatures resulted in with higher average mechanical various modes testing. Matrix MFI appeared to significantly affect all properties. It is interesting note that the very short-fibre composites produced are comparable those reinforced longer discontinuous fibres long-fibre mats.