The effect of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) treated banana fibre on water absorption and mechanical properties of polypropylene composites using Taguchi based grey relational analysis
This research examines the water absorption and control factors that contribute to the mechanical stability of fabricated composites by using Grey-Taguchi analysis. Banana fibre as a reinforcing agent along with a polypropylene matrix was used for fabricating the composite material. It was observed...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Next Materials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949822825004381 |
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| Summary: | This research examines the water absorption and control factors that contribute to the mechanical stability of fabricated composites by using Grey-Taguchi analysis. Banana fibre as a reinforcing agent along with a polypropylene matrix was used for fabricating the composite material. It was observed that the water absorption depends on the banana fibre content, and it was found that there was low water absorption occurring at 5 wt% of banana fibre reinforced composite, which is 1.23 %, and higher water absorption (4.2 %) for the propylene composites (12.5 wt% of banana fibre). There are three control factors: banana fibre (wt%), NaHCO₃, and compression molding pressure (MPa) were used for obtaining the superior mechanical strength of composites. Grey relational analysis revealed 12.5 wt% banana fibre/6 % NaHCO₃/1 MPa compression pressure had the superior mechanical strength in 15 trial combinations. Banana weight percentage has achieved the first rank in improving the mechanical properties of composites, followed by NaHCO₃ concentration and compression pressure. The higher mechanical strength was achieved: tensile strength (48.44 MPa), flexural strength (78.22 MPa), and impact strength (28.35 kJ/m²) for 12.5 wt% banana fibre/6 % NaHCO₃/1 MPa compression pressure-based composites. According to an analysis of variance, banana fibre was identified as the most influential control factor, contributing 48.14 % to the improvement of the mechanical properties of fabricated composites. Moreover, SEM analyses revealed that matrix breakage, fibre pullouts, and both are responsible for creating voids in the composites. Surface modification of fibres with NaHCO₃ reduces the surface irregularities and increases the mechanical strength of fabricated composites. |
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| ISSN: | 2949-8228 |