THE EFFECT OF COMPATIBILIZER ON THE TENSILE AND MORPHOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF NYLON FIBRE REINFORCED THERMOPLASTIC NATURAL RUBBER COMPOSITES

• Published in: Malaysian Journal of Microscopy
• Main Author: Zawawi E.Z.E.; Ahmad S.; Rashid R.; Bonnia N.N.
• Format: Note
• Language: English
• Published: Microscopy Society of Malaysia 2022
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85129498319&partnerID=40&md5=3b81b24458ee4cb20bc1494faf9ecd4b

In this study, the tensile properties such as tensile strength, modulus, and tensile strain of thermoplastic natural rubber (TPNR) composites reinforced with different volume fractions (vol%) of short nylon textile fibres (PA6) compositions were investigated. The TPNR was prepared from blending of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), natural rubber (NR), and liquid natural rubber (LNR) in the ratio of 50:40:10. The composites were prepared via the melt blending process with an internal mixer, and the compression moulding machine was used to mould the tensile test specimens. This study focuses on the effect of fibre loading with and without compatibilizer, maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene (MAPE) on the tensile and morphological properties of the TPNR composites. Incorporation of fibre loading from 0 to 20 vol.% in TPNR resulted in increased tensile strength and tensile modulus to 16.11MPa and 287.67 MPa respectively, and the increments were 128.57% and 105.66 %, respectively. The addition of 4 wt.% MAPE in the composites of 20 vol% fibres increased the tensile modulus of the composites up to 26% compared to the composites without compatibilizer. The scanning electron micrograph of tensile fracture surfaced showed good adhesion between the fibres and polymer matrix with the presence of MAPE. © Malaysian Journal of Microscopy (2022). All rights reserved.