Innovative Thermoplastics Composites Made from Recycled Poly(Propylene) Reinforced with Coconut Coir Fibers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Sustainable Materials

Background:

• Growing demand for wood products strains natural resources.
• Recycling waste plastic (polypropylene) and agricultural byproducts (coconut coir) offers environmental benefits.
• Developing low-cost, accessible composite manufacturing processes is crucial for sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate properties of poly(propylene) (PP) composites reinforced with coconut coir fibers.
• To investigate the effect of fiber length and composition ratio on composite properties.
• To assess the feasibility of a low-tech manufacturing process for sustainable composites.

Main Methods:

• Manufactured nine composite variations using PP, coconut coir fibers (3 lengths), and xylene.
• Tested physical properties (density, moisture, swelling) against Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) for particleboard.
• Measured mechanical properties, including modulus of elasticity (MoE) and modulus of rupture (MoR).

Main Results:

• Physical properties met JIS particleboard standards.
• Increased fiber length decreased MoE and MoR.
• Higher PP content resulted in stronger composites.
• No significant interaction effect between PP amount and fiber length on composite quality.

Conclusions:

• A low-cost, accessible process using waste materials can produce composites meeting industry standards.
• Optimizing PP content and fiber characteristics can yield effective thermoplastic composites.
• This approach offers an environmentally beneficial alternative to wood products with potential for structural applications.