Abstract

Over the past decades, most of biocomposite material is developed from a combination of matrix polymers and a reinforcement of synthetic fibers or a conversely combination. The biocomposite materials have been resulted in superior performance in many applications. However, due to global warming issues and exhausting of petroleum resources have enforced the researchers to substitute the nonrenewable materials with natural basis materials. Thus, for this particular research, both of matrix and reinforced agent are utilizing natural based resources. In Malaysia, one of the most potential natural basis fibers is derived from pineapple wastes. PALF is extracted from pineapple leaf wastes which are easily found during harvesting pineapple plantation. The fibres are extracted from different types of pineapple available in Malaysia which are Moris Gajah, Jasopine, Maspine, and N36. Polylactide (PLA) is used as a natural binding element. The main objective of this study is to investigate mechanical properties of this new green based composite via tensile and bending tests. For a material properties comparison purposes, PALF reinforced polypropelene also was develop. Based on the result, Jasopine fibre shows the highest tensile and flexural strength for the combination of both polymers compared to other types of PALF. The result data on material properties will be useful to optimize material processing which will give information to other application such as design of product using this new composites material.

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