| Abstrakt: |
Natural fiber-embedded polymer matrix composite offers a high strength-to-weight ratio, is eco-friendly, is economic, and has a good flexural strength to fulfil various engineering applications. During the fabrication, researchers faced the challenges of incompatibility, moisture absorption, low fracture toughness, and wear performance. This research focuses on the Roselle fiber subjected to alkali treatment (NaOH), which bonded with polypropylene matrix enriched by the inclusions of 3, 6, and 9 wt% of bryophyllum pinnatum leaf waste–derived silica nanoparticle synthesized via injection molding. The effects of fiber and nano-silica content on density, porosity, surface morphology, water absorption, microhardness, flexural strength, and fracture toughness of polypropylene composites were studied. The composite containing 25 wt% of NaOH-treated Roselle fiber blended with 9 wt% nano-silica particle (PPRFS3) offered less porosity (0.58%), and homogenous fiber and particle distribution in polypropylene matrix was confirmed via surface morphology. The results were improved microhardness (114 ± 1.05 HV), superior flexural strength of 128.67 ± 0.85 MPa, good fracture toughness of 2.32 MPa m1/2, and a low water absorption rate of 0.0975%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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