Study of Sisal Fibre Attrition and Characterization during Direct Extrusion Compression Moulding

The Present Research work has been done under the sponsorship of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. Natural fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites getting higher demand in the present scenario. In this paper the research work has been done on Sisal fibre attrition and characterization during Direct Extrusion compression moulding. The continuous Sisal fibre rovings were obtained from external source and Physical properties were studied. Polypropylene was used as a matrix and Maleic Anhydride Polypropylene (MAPP) as a coupling agent. Fibre rovings were treated with 5% NaoH and Nacl (Alkaline and Silane) respectively to remove lignin content and impurities which were present in it and by that it was observed the improvement in fibre matrix adhesion. Extrusion process was achieved by introducing new compounding element and screw configuration by that fibre attrition has been reduced. Fibre length and Screw speed were considered as major parameters in characterization. Test plates were obtained for different volume fraction with different screw speeds. Obtained Test plates were tested as per ASTM standards in the mean time Solvent test and Microscopic tests were also conducted in order to do fibre length analysis. Increased Mechanical properties were obtained and it was correlated and validated with the fibre length and screw speed. From the results it was clear that the stiffness and dimension stability of the composites increases with the factors like fibre aspect ratio, volume fraction of fibres, fibre critical length and fibre to matrix modulus ratio. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.