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This study investigates the mechanical properties of high impact polypropylene composite reinforced with pineapple leaf fibre from the Josapine cultivar as a function of fibre loading. PLF was extracted by using a pineapple leaf fibre machine and then an alkaline treatment was conducted to enhance the properties. Samples of the composite were fabricated with 100 mm fibre length with five different fibre loadings of PLF (30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 wt%). The fabrication was made by a compression moulding technique with unidirectional fibre orientation. Related tests such as tensile, hardness and density tests were conducted to determine the effect of fibre loading. The experimental data showed that the composite with the 60 wt% fibre loading offered the highest value of tensile strength, which was about 309%, and the Young’s modulus was about 540% compared to 0 wt% of PLF loading. Meanwhile, the hardness and density of the PLF/PP composites showed very similar values, with small increments from 30 wt% up to 70 wt% PLF loading compared to 0 wt% of PLF loading. The highest values are 65.38 Shore-D and 1.002 g/cm³ respectively. The results also revealed that PLF from the Josapine cultivar with alkaline treatment greatly influences the mechanical properties of PLF/PP composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we analyze the results of the delignification treatments performed on three natural fibers (sisal, pineapple, and banana) and of the thermal treatments at 400, 600, and 800°C on three industrial fibers (aramid, carbon, and glass). The fibers were analyzed by TGA, SEM, and EDS, as well as tested for tensile strength before and after the delignification and thermal treatments. Contact angle measurements were also carried out on the natural fibers. With the delignification treatments, the removal of Si, K, and Mg on pineapple and banana fibers was achieved. Thermal treatments lowered significantly the tensile strength of industrial fibers, while delignification treatments decreased slightly the mechanical resistance of natural fibers, except in the case of the pineapple fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]