Development of recycled polypropylene-based sustainable composites with recycled carbon fibre/Kenaf fibre hybrid reinforcements

Recycled carbon fibre (RCF) and Kenaf fibre (KF) have been used as reinforcement materials in combination with recycled polypropylene (RPP) matrix to manufacture a sustainable composite. Maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (MAPP) has also been used as a compatibilizer to modify the interface between fibres and matrix composites, resulting in improved composite strength and thermal resistance. After modified with MAPP, the recycled carbon fibre was combined with KF fiber to improve the KF/RPP composite properties such as mechanical and thermal stability. The results were indicated that the mechanical properties of RCF/RPP composite was improved with increasing of MAPP when MAPP added 8 Wt. %, these reached a Maximum of 77.6 MPa and 271.4 MPa, respectively. When the RCF combined with the KF hybrid composite, the mechanical strength of the hybrid composite was improved with the amount of RCF. The DSC results showed that the MAPP could reduce the Tc of RPP and increase the crystallization degree. The hybrid composite presented that the crystallization degree was increased with the increment of RCF content. The DMA results showed that the RCF can influence the ß translation of RPP.