International Multidisciplinary Postgraduate Virtual Conference 2020 (IMPC20)
9 & 10 December 2020
@Center for Graduate Studies, UNISEL
e-proceeding
eISBN 978-967-18916
ALKALINE TREATED TEXTILE WASTE FIBRE POLYMER
COMPOSITES: IMPACT AND TENSILE PROPERTIES
Norazean Shaari1, Muhammad Asyraf Mohd Salleh1, Muhammad Shahrul Nizam Suri1, Nor Shamimi Shaari2
1
Faculty of Engineering and Life Sciences, Universiti Selangor, 45600 Bestari Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
2
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, UiTM Cawangan Pulau Pinang, 13500 Permatang Pauh, Malaysia
E-mail : norazean@unisel.edu.my
Abstract – Interfacial bonding is one of the critical issues addressed in fabricating natural fibre polymer
composite. Thus, alkaline treatment is one of the methods to improve adhesion bonding. This study
was conducted to investigate the optimum concentration of alkali solution that affected textile waste
fibre polymer composites' mechanical properties under impact and tension loading. Textile wastes are
treated with an alkali solution (NaOH) with different concentrations (1, 3, and 5 wt %). Composite
specimens were fabricated using a compression moulding method. The low-velocity impact test (ASTM
D7136) and tensile test (ASTM D3039) were conducted to analyze the tensile and impact properties of
untreated and treated composite specimens. The tensile strength and impact resistance result improved
when textile waste fibres were treated with 1wt% NaOH solution based on the tensile and impact test
results.
Keywords : Alkaline treatment; textile waste; tensile; impact
1. INTRODUCTION
Cotton fibre reinforced composites have recently increased attention because they offer advantages
such as biodegradability, good physical properties and low cost compared to manmade or inorganic
fibres used in composites [1]. However, one of the critical issues in developing natural fibre composites
is the interfacial bonding between fibres and the polymer matrix. One of the solutions been introduced
is by a chemical modification, which is alkali treatment. Treating fibre with alkali will result in high
moisture absorption of the fibres, which causes swelling that affects dimensional stability in natural
fibre composites [2]. The fibres' damage may exceed any benefit achieved by the high alkaline treatment
concentration [3]. Many researchers used different weight percentages of alkaline solutions with various
lengths of immersion time to treat natural fibres [4].
In this study, textile waste from cotton fibre reinforced polymer composites was prepared via the
compression moulding method. This study focuses on the alkaline treatment of pre-consumer textile
waste with different NaOH concentrations on assessing impact resistance and tensile properties of
cotton fibre reinforced polymer composites.
2. METHODOLOGY
The materials used in this study are cotton fibres from pre-consumer textile wastes, Miracast 1517
epoxy resin system, and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Cotton fibres were treated using NaOH solution
(alkaline treatment) at various 1, 3, and 5 wt% concentrations. The compression moulding method was
carried out to fabricate the composites with a 6% cotton fibres content. A low-velocity impact test and
tensile test were conducted to investigate the tensile and impact properties of composite specimens,
according to ASTM D7136 [5] and ASTM D3039 [6], respectively.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
3.1 Tensile properties of textile waste reinforced polymer composites
Figure 1(a) shows that 1wt% NaOH composite specimen reaches the optimal tensile strength with the
value of 4.43 MPa. This value is a 57.4% improvement compared to the untreated fibres. However, the
70
International Multidisciplinary Postgraduate Virtual Conference 2020 (IMPC20)
9 & 10 December 2020
@Center for Graduate Studies, UNISEL
e-proceeding
eISBN 978-967-18916
value reduced to 2.52 MPa after 5wt% of NaOH treatment, which was 10.5% lower than the untreated
fibre. Referring to Figure 1 (b), the specific modulus against specific strength was obtained based on
the density values of each composite specimens. The value of specific strength for the 1wt% NaOH
composite specimen appears to be 52% higher than the untreated composite specimen's specific
strength. For the specific modulus value, the 1wt% NaOH composite specimen recorded a 7% increment
compared to the untreated composite specimen.
(a)
(b)
Figure 1 (a) Typical stress-strain graph for textile waste reinforced polymer composites, (b) The
specific strength versus specific modulus of textile waste reinforced polymer composites
3.2 Impact properties of textile waste reinforced polymer composites
According to Figure 2(a), the highest damaged load was observed from 1wt% of NaOH composite
specimens at 1.246 kN. Figure 2(b) reveals the specific impact strength against specific total energy
absorbed as acquired from the density test. The analysis made shows that high strength to weight ratio
and high energy to weight ratio was recorded for 1wt% of NaOH compared to untreated specimens.
(a)
(b)
Figure 2 (a) Typical load versus deflection curve, and (b) The specific impact strength versus total
energy absorbed
71
International Multidisciplinary Postgraduate Virtual Conference 2020 (IMPC20)
9 & 10 December 2020
@Center for Graduate Studies, UNISEL
e-proceeding
eISBN 978-967-18916
4. CONCLUSION
The alkaline treatment of cotton fibres improved their mechanical interlocking between the fibres
and the epoxy matrix. The tensile strength and tensile modulus increased by up to 57.4% and 7%,
respectively, at 1wt% NaOH, which optimal concentration of alkaline treatment for cotton fibre.
Improvement in loading capability and the toughest characteristic displayed on 1wt% of NaOH
composite specimens such as higher value in peak load, maximum initiation energy, high impact
strength, high strength to weight ratio and high total energy absorbed weight ratio.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This work was financially supported by SEMESTA-MBI Industry Research Grant (I/SEMMBI/ST/2020/16).
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