Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
1 3
Ef ect of Kenaf Cellulose Whiskers on Cellulose
Acetate Butyrate Nanocomposites Properties
Lukmanul Hakim Zaini
1
, M. T. Paridah
1,2
, M. Jawaid
*,
1,3,
, Alothman Y. Othman
3
and A. H.
Juliana
1
1
Department of Biocomposite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products
(INTROP), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
2
Faculty of Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
3
Department of Chemical Engineering, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Kenaf cellulose whiskers-reinforced nanocomposites are manufactured by solution casting.
Dif erent kenaf cellulose whiskers percentages were used as reinforcement in cellulose acetate
butyrate (CAB) matrix. h e percentages of reinforcement used in this study are 2.5, 5, 7.5, and
10%. Resulted nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectros-
copy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dif erential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic
mechanical analysis (DMA). h e FTIR analysis showed no intermolecular hydrogen bonding
between CAB and whiskers. h ermal analysis found that whiskers reinforcement did not af ect
the decomposition temperature of nanocomposite. However, single decomposition temperature
indicated good miscibility of nanocomposite. h e DSC curves revealed that melting tempera-
ture and CAB recrystallization did not show any changes during heat-cool-heat measurement.
In addition, glass transition was unchanged as kenaf whiskers content increased. h is indicated
that kenaf cellulose whiskers reinforcement did not af ect the onset of translational and rota-
tional backbone motions in the composite matrix. Dynamic mechanical analysis of nanocom-
posites showed an improvement by increasing the kenaf whiskers content in the CAB matrix.
Keywords:
Kenaf whiskers, cellulose acetate butyrate, chemical properties, thermal properties,
nanocomposites
13.1
Introduction
Kenaf (
Hibiscus cannabinus
L.) is a plant in the Malvaceae family. It is a warm-season
annual i ber crop grown in temperate and tropical areas. Kenaf 's' signii cant contri-
bution to the supply of raw material for cellulose pulp and other products makes it
a potential substitute for wood resources [1]. Due to its rapid growth, ecological adapt-
ability and production yield, kenaf is considered as the i ber source of the future [1] .
