SUPERVISOR DECLARATION

“I hereby declare that I have read this thesis and in my opinion this thesis is

sufficient in term of scope and quality for the award of the degree of Bachelor of

Mechanical Engineering (Structure & Material).”

Signature : …………………………

Supervisor :DR. SITI HAJAR BINTI SHEIKH MD.FADZULLAH

Date : …………………………

THE EFFECT OF COUPLING AGENT ON THE MECHANICAL

PROPERTIES OF PLA-BASED POLYMER COMPOSITES

NUR AMARINA BINTI MAHMOOD

This report is written as a partial fulfilment of terms in achieving the award for

Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Structure & Material)(Hons.)

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering

Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka

JUNE 2015

ii

DECLARATION

“I hereby declare that the work in this thesis is my own except for summaries

quotation which have been duly acknowledged”

Signature :......................................................

Author : NUR AMARINA BINTI MAHMOOD

Date :......................................................

iii

Thank you a lot to all of my family especially to my father and my mother for

helping and support to finish this thesis.

Mahmood Bin Ibrahim

Laila Dahalan

iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Praise to Allah the Almighty, with His will I had finally completed preparing for this

FYP thesis. I would like to take this opportunities to thank to my supervisor Dr Siti

Hajar Binti Sheikh Md Fadzullah for her never ending support, guidance, and

advices during completion of this thesis.

My appreciation also goes to my parents for their support towards me to successfully

done this project in order to graduate from UTeM. Last but not least, my appreciation

goes to those who had involve directly or indirectly in helping me to complete this

thesis.

v

ABTRACT

This research describes biodegradable polymers using composites PLA as a

matrix and reinforced with pineapple leaf fibres (PALF) to produce environmentally

friendly “green composites”. To-date, there has been numerous published papers,

highlight the potential composite of such materials to replace the synthetic composites.

However, these type of biocomposites is well-known to be brittle in nature as well as

possess low tensile strength and impact properties in comparison to that of the

synthetic polymer composites. Hence, this research aims to investigate the effect of

coupling agent in promoting improved bond between the fibre reinforcement and the

polymer matrix, which enhanced the mechanical properties of biocomposites. In this

research, pineapple leaf are considered natural fibre reinforcement and polylactid acid

(PLA) as a biodegradable polymer. Mechanical properties have been conducted and

analysed by characterised under tensile, flexural and impact loading according to the

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Findings show that PALF

reinforced PLA composites possessed superior properties in comparison to that of the

plain PLA. In addition, the effect of using alkaline pre treatment improved the bonding

forms at the fibre/matrix interface.

vi

ABSTRAK

Penyelidikan ini memfokuskan kepada bahan polimer terbiodegrasi

menggunakan bahan PLA sebagai satu matrik dan diperkukuhkan dengan gentian daun

nenas untuk menghasilkan bahan biokomposit yang bersifat mesra alam. Sehinnga

kini, telah banyak kajian yang telah dijalankan yang menekankan bahawa komposit ini

boleh menggantikan polimer sintetik. Walaubagaimanapun, biokomposit ini terkenal

mempunyai sifat rapuh dan serta mempunyai tegangan yang rendah dan hentaman

berbanding dengan sintetik polimer. Maka, penyelidikan ini bertujuan untuk menyiasat

kesan agent pengupelan dalam mempromosikan ikatan yang lebih baik antara matrik

polimer dan gentian nenas yang meningkatkan ciri-ciri mekanikal komposit. Dalam

penyelidikan ini, PLA digunakan sebagai matrik dan daun nenas sebagai gentian untuk

menghasilkan polimer terbiodegrasi. Sifat mekanik telah dijalankan dan dianalisa di

bawah tegangan,, lenturan dan hentaman mengikut American Society Testing

Materials (ASTM). Penemuan ini menunjukkan bahawa bahan komposit PLA

diperkuat gentian nenas mempunyai ciri-ciri yang hebat berbanding dengan bahan

polimer PLA yang tidak diperkuat pada antara muka di antara bahan matrik dan

gentian nenas. Hal ini turut dipengaruhi oleh peningkatan yang ditingkatkan pada

antara muka dia antara bahan matrik dan gentian dengan proses pra-rawatan alkali

dengan menggunakan natrium hidroksida.

vii

TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER TITLE PAGE

DECLARATION ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

ABSTRACT v

ABSTRAK vi

TABLE OF CONTENT vii

LIST OF TABLES x

LIST OF FIGURES xi

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background 1

1.2 Objectives 2

1.3 Scope of Research 3

1.4 Problem Statement 3

1.5 Planning And Execution 4

CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW 6

2.1 Introduction to Composite Material 7

2.2 Polymer Matrix Composites 8

2.3 Biocomposites 10

2.3.1 Available bio-composites and their benefits 11

viii

2.3.2 Matrix polymer matrix 12

2.3.3 Natural fibre reinforcement 13

2.4 Mechanical Properties if biocomposites 14

2.4.1 Tensile Properties of PALF reinforced PLA composites 15

2.4.2 Flexural Properties of PALF reinforced PLA composites 17

2.4.3 Impact properties 18

2.5 Chemical Treatment 20

2.5.1 Alkaline Treatment 20

2.5.2 Silane treatment 21

2.6 Summary 21

CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY 23

3.1 Introduction 23

3.2 Raw materials 25

3.2.1 Polylactid acid (PLA) 25

3.2.2 Pineapple leaf 26

3.3 Fabrication process 28

3.3.1 Preparation of PLAF 29

3.3.2 PALF-PLA Composite Preparation 30

3.3.3 Testing Sample Preparation 33

3.4 Testing Method 34

3.4.1 Tensile testing 34

3.4.2 Flexural testing 36

3.4.3 Impact Testing 38

3.4.4 Morphology studies 40

ix

CHAPTER IV RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 42

4.1 Introduction 42

4.2 Tensile Properties 42

4.2.1 Failure mode on tensile sample 47

4.3 Flexural Properties 49

4.4 Impact Properties 52

4.4.1 Failure mode on impact testing 55

4.4 Morphological Study 56

CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 60

5.1 Conclusion 60

5.2 Recommendation 61

REFERENCE 62

x

LIST OF TABLES

NO TITLE PAGE

1.1 Gantt chart PSM I. 4

1.2 Gantt chart PSM II. 5

2.1 Advantages and disadvantages of composites. 8

2.2 Advantage and disadvantage of thermosets and 9

thermoplastic

2.3 Properties of PLA and PLAF 15

2.4 Average value of flexural strength and modulus of elastic 21

3.1 PLA Ingeo Biopolymer 6100D Technical Data Sheet 26

4.1 The results of tensile testing properties obtained from 44

the tensile test on the PLA sample.

4.2 The results of tensile properties from tensile test on 44

the composites samples.

4.3 Comparison data between experimental value, theoretical 45

and references.

4.4 Observation the failure mode of Plain PLA. 48

4.5 Observation the failure mode of composites. 49

4.6 The results of flexural properties obtained from flexural 50

test on pure PLA samples.

4.7 The results of flexural testing obtained on composites 50

samples.

4.8 Comparison data with experimental value and references. 50

4.9 The results of impact testing obtained on pure PLA 53

xi

NO TITLE PAGE

4.10 The results of tensile testing obtained on composites 53

samples.

4.11 Comparison data between experimental value and 53

literature review.

4.12 Observation the failure mode of Pure PLA. 55

4.13 Observation the failure mode of composites. 56

5.1 Summary of main findings from the experimental 61

work.

xii

LIST OF FIGURES

NO TITLE PAGE

2.1 Development of Biocomposites from Renewable Resource 10

2.2 Development process and value chain of biocomposites industry in

Malaysia 12

2.3 Polylactic acid (PLA) polymerization 12

2.4 Categories of Natural Fibres 14

2.5 Tensile properties of PLAF/PLA composites showing tensile

strength and tensile modulus 16

2.6 Elongation at break of PALF/PLA composites 16

2.7 Flexural properties of 40 wt% surface-treated PALF fibbers

compared to untreated PALF fibres reinforced composites 17

2.8 Stress–strain curves: (a) neat PLA (b) PLA/PALF (60/40), (c)

PLA/PALFNA(60 wt%/40 wt%) , (d) PLA/PALFSI (60 wt%/40

wt%) and (e) PLA/PALFNASI 18

2.9 Notched Izod impact strength of 40 wt% surface-treated PALF fibres

compared to untreated PALF fibres reinforced composites 19

2.10 Dependence of impact strength on the content for PLA/PALF

composites: (i) PLA/PALF, (ii) PLA/PALFNA (iii) PLA/PALFSI

and (iv) PLA/PALFNASI. 19

xiii

3.1 Flow chart of the project research 24

3.2 PLA pellet 25

3.3 Pineapple leaf as natural fibre 27

3.4 Fabrication process of the PALF reinforced PLA composites 28

3.5 PLAF immersed in 5% concentration of NaOH 29

3.6 PLAF was dried 30

3.7 Graph of temperature vs Time for hot press machine during

fabrication process. 31

3.8 Mould dimension 180mm x 180mm 31

3.9 Hot Isostatic Press Machine 32

3.10 Composite Plate 32

3.11 Shearing machine to cut sample inti size 33

3.12 Detail dimension on tensile specimen 34

3.13 Universal Testing Machine for Tensile and Flexural Testing 35

3.14 (a) Pure PLA test that have been failed (b) Composites that have

been failed 36

3.15 Allowable Range of Loading Nose and Support Radii in ASTM

D790 37

3.16 Charpy impact tester 40

3.17 Dimension of the charpy impact test 40

3.18 Mini sputter Coater machine 40

3.19 The samples that have been coated 41

3.20 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) 41

4.1 Stress-strain Curves for plain PLA 43

4.2 Stress-strain Curves for PALF reinforced PLA composite 43

xiv

4.3 Graph of tensile strength versus type of samples 45

4.4 Graph of Young’s modulus versus type of samples 46

4.5 Graph of comparison on the tensile strength for composites treated

with NaOH, treated with silane coupling agent and theoretical 46

4.6 Graph of comparison on Young’s Modulus for composites treated

with NaOH and theoretical. 47

4.7 Graph of Flexural strength versus type of samples 51

4.8 Graph of flexural modulus versus type of samples 51

4.9 Graph of comparison on the flexural strength for composites treated

with NaOH and treated with silane coupling agent 51

4.10 Graph of comparison on the flexural modulus for composites treated

with NaOH and treated with silane coupling agent 52

4.11 Graph of energy absorbed versus type of sample 54

4.12 Graph of comparison on the energy absorbed for composites

between treated with NaOH and treated with silane coupling agent54

4.13 The failure mode of the plain PLA under tensile loading 57

4.14 The failure mode of the composites under tensile loading 58

4.15 The failure mode of the composites under impact loading 58

4.16 Micrograph of PALF reinforced PLA composite (30wt% PALF) 59

1

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND

The growing environmental awareness, the concern for environmental

sustainability and the growing wasted problem is increased year by year. The

production of fuel-derived plastics is often harmful to the environment [1]. For

example automotive applications based on natural fibres with polypropylene as matrix

material are very common today [2]. Limited studies have been carried out on

composites with matrices, which originate from renewable raw materials. There are

many different polymers of renewable material. For example, polylactic acid, cellulose

esters, poly hydroxyl butyrates, starch and lignin based plastics, are some of the

renewable polymer materials or biopolymer [3].

The use of natural plant fibres as a reinforcement in fibre-reinforced plastics

(FRP) to replace synthetic fibres such as glass is receiving attention, because of

advantages such as low density, high specific strength and renewability. The

development of biodegradable composite materials using natural fibres such as flax,

bamboo, pineapple, jute, and kenaf as a reinforcement for biodegradable plastics have

examined molding conditions, mechanical properties, and interfacial bonding.

2

However, the processes involved in using natural plant fibres as a reinforcement are

different from those using industrial products such as glass and carbon fibres. The

shape, size, and strength of the natural plant fibres may vary widely depending on

cultivation environment, region of origin, and other characteristics. Besides, these

features of the natural fibres are likely to influence the mechanical properties of the

natural fibre-reinforced plastics [4].

Coupling agents are used to provide a stable bond between two otherwise non-

bonding and incompatible surfaces. In reinforced and filled plastics, the improved

bond between the fibrous or particulate inorganic component and the organic matrix

polymer results in greater composite strength [5]. Coupling agent are commonly

employed to treat fibre surfaces in order to improve interfacial adhesion within

composites which can also in some cases improve their initial mechanical properties.

Coupling agent investigated include, but are not limited to; conventional silanes,

various phosphonic acids, poly-(HEMA), zirconate and titanate coupling agents [6].

1.2 OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this research are listed as below:

i. To develop PLA-based polymer composites using pineapple leaf fibre as

reinforcement.

ii. To study the effect of using chemical coupling agent on the bonding

mechanism present.

iii. To access the effect of using chemical coupling agent on the tensile and

impact properties of the degradable polymer composites.

3

1.3 SCOPE OF RESEACRH

The scopes of this research are listed as below:

i. selection of materials and coupling agent for the composites.

ii. fabrication of biodegradable polymer composites test panels.

iii. mechanical testing.

iv. physical testing.

v. surface morphology.

1.4 PROBLEM STATEMENT

The developing environmental awareness and new rules and regulations are

forcing the industries to seek more ecologically friendly materials for their products

[3]. There are many different polymers are renewable materials for example polylactic

acid, starch, cellulose esters and lignin based plastics. The problems with these

polymers have been poor commercial availability, poor processability, low toughness,

high price and low moisture stability.

Biodegradable polymers such as PLA, cellulose esters and starch can be

reinforced with these bio-based fibres such as kenaf, flax, bamboo and sisal to produce

environmentally friendly “green compo-sites” [7]. However, this type of

biocomposites is well-known to be brittle in nature as well as possess low tensile

strength and impact properties in comparison to that of the synthetic polymer

composites [8]. Hence, this research aims to investigate the effect of coupling agent in

promoting improved bond between the fibre reinforcement and the polymer matrix,

which is expected to enhance the mechanical properties of biocomposites.

4

1.5 PLANNING AND EXECUTION

Table 1.1: Gantt chart PSM I

Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Selection of PSM title

Literature Review

Design of Experiment

Draft of PSM I Poster

Submission of poster

Characterisation of

raw materials

Preliminary data

analysis

PSM I report writing

Submission of PSM I

report

PSM I seminar

Task

5

The Gantt chart shows project the planning for Final Year Project ( PSM I)

which commences in September 2014. The research activities include selection of

research title and approval by the respective lecturer, literature review that is

continuous throughout the studies, design of experiment, as well as establishing the

methodology. This is followed by poster preparation and submission. After that

fabrication process. Once required results and analysis, report PSM I will be submitted

and have PSM I seminar.

Table 1.2: Gantt chart PSM II

Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Material Review

Design Test

Model

Experimental

Work

Fabrication

Mechanical Test

Analysis

Result &

Discussion

Submission of

PSM II report

PSM II seminar

Task

6

CHAPTER II

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITE MATERIAL

A composite material is made by combining two or more materials. The two

materials work together to give the composite unique properties. However, within the

composite it can easily tell the different materials apart as they do not dissolve or blend

into each other [9]. Composites have become an integral part of our day-to-day life

and can be discovered all over the place, for example rubber tire, spacecraft, asphalt,

etc. Composites have been around for a long time with the classic example of bricks

made from straw and mud. Another example is the Mongol bow which was constructed

out of animal tendons, wood, and silk bonded together with an adhesive [10].

7

Nature also has its own composites in the form of wood, teeth, bones, muscle

tissue, etc. In general the composite materials consist of a matrix reinforced with fibres.

The biggest advantage of modern composite materials is that they are light as well as

strong. By choosing an appropriate combination of matrix and reinforcement material,

a new material can be made that exactly meets the requirements of a particular

application. Composites also provide design flexibility because many of them can be

moulded into complex shapes. The downside is often the cost. Although the resulting

product is more efficient, the raw materials are often expensive [11].

High performance fibre reinforced composite materials are comprised of high

strength and modulus fibres, embedded in, or bonded to, a matrix, with a distinct

interface between them. In a composite, the fibre, as well as the matrix, retain their

physical and chemical identities, but still provide a combination of properties that

cannot be achieved with either of the constituents alone. In general the fibres play the

role of load bearer. The matrix, while keeping the fibres in the desired location and

orientation, act as a load transfer agent and protects the fibres from external conditions

such as chemicals, heat and moisture [12].

Composites can be classified based on the type of fibres or matrix used. Based

on the type of fibres, composites can be further classified as continuous fibre

reinforced composite and short fibre reinforced composites. Based on the type of

matrix, composites can be broadly classified into three categories, there are metal

matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites and polymer matrix composites [11].

8

Table 2.1: Advantages and disadvantages of composites [11].

Advantages Disadvantages

Weight reduction Cost of raw materials and

fabrication

High strength or stiffness to weight

ratio

Transverse properties may be weak

Tailorable properties: can tailor

strength or stiffness to be in the load

direction

Matrix weakness, low toughness

Redundant load paths (fibre to fibre) Matrix subject to environmental

degradation

Longer life (no corrosion), better

fatigue life

Difficult to attach

Lower manufacturing costs Non-destructive testing tedious

2.2 POLYMER MATRIX COMPOSITES

Polymer matrix composites are widely used and sub-divided into two classes

based on the type of matrix polymer are thermoplastic or thermoset. Thermoplastics

consists of linear or branched chain molecules having strong intramolecular bonds but

weak intermolecular bonds. They can be reshaped by application of heat and pressure

and are either semicrystalline or amorphous in structure. Examples include

polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, nylons, polycarbonate, polyacetals,

polyamide-imides, polyether ether ketone, polysulfone, polyphenylene sulfide,

polyether imide, and so on. [8].

9

Thermoset have cross-linked or network structures with covalent bonds with

all molecules. They do not soften but decompose on heating. Once solidified by cross-

linking process they cannot be reshaped. Common examples are epoxies, polyesters,

phenolics, ureas, melamine, silicone, and polyimides [14].

The difference between thermoplastics and thermosets plastics is that

thermoplastics become soft, remoldable and weldable when heat is added. Thermoets

plastics however cannot be welded or remolded when heated, simply burning instead.

On the other hand, once a thermosets is cured it tends to be stronger than a

thermoplastic [14].

Table 2.2: Advantages and disadvantage of thermosets and thermoplastics

[14].

Property Thermosets Thermoplastics Formulations Complex Simple Melt viscosity very low High Fiber Impregnation Easy Difficult Prepeg tac good None Prepag drape good none to fair Prepag stability good Excellent Processing cycle Long short to long Processing temperature low to moderate High Processing pressure low to moderate High Fabrication cost high Low Mechanical properties fair to good fair to good 54 to 93 °C.hot/wer Environmental durability good Unknown Solvent resistance excellent poor to good Damage tolerance poor to excellent fair to good Database very large Small