TY  - EJOU
AU  - Surip, Siti Norasmah 
AU  - Jaafar, Wan Nor Raihan Wan 
AU  - Fatriansyah, Jaka Fajar 
AU  - Kong, Ing 

TI  - Comparative Study of PLA/Kenaf Core and PLA/Kenaf Bast Flexural Properties
T2  - Journal of Renewable Materials

PY  - 
VL  - 
IS  - 
SN  - 2164-6341

AB  - Most studies on kenaf fibre composites focus on the bast due to its higher fibre yield and strength, while the core is often neglected. In this work, Polylactic Acid (PLA) matrix was reinforced with both kenaf bast and core fibres at a 49:1 wt% ratio. The fibres were chemically treated and cryo-crushed to improve bonding and dispersion. Mechanical testing revealed that treated Kenaf Core Composites (KCC) exhibited comparable flexural and impact properties to Kenaf Bast Composites (KBC), with flexural strengths of 46.19 and 46.52 MPa, respectively, and impact strengths of 5.8 and 4.4 J/m. Meanwhile, thermal analysis reported increased glass transition temperature (Tg) and crystallinity for both composites compared to neat PLA, indicating restricted polymer chain mobility and enhanced interfacial bonding. Moreover, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirmed strong fibre-matrix adhesion and good dispersion of both fibre types. This indicates that kenaf core can perform as well as bast in composites, supporting full-plant utilization. Overall, using both bast and core can reduce waste, improve sustainability, and enhance the economic value of kenaf in bio-composite applications.
KW  - Polylactic acid; kenaf fibre; mechanical properties; chemical treatment

DO  - 10.32604/jrm.2025.02025-0182