Abstract

Kenaf fibre was compounded with low-density polyethylene on a two-roll mill to produce a composite for various applications. The kenaf fibre was sourced, socked in water for two weeks by ratting method to separate fibre from cellulosic content which was washed, treated with sodium hydroxide, for five minutes each and sun dried under room temperature, also with the aid of the oven to dry at 100 oC for 2 hours. It was then reduced to a particulate size of 2mm. The low-density polyethylene/kenaf fibre was varied into samples such as 100/0, 95/5, 90/10, 85/15, 80/20, 75/25 and 70/30g respectively which was compounded on the two-roll mill and compressed with a compression moulding machine and the result of the composite were characterized on the bases of mechanical analysis (hardness, tensile strength, water absorption and dynamic mechanical analysis). The results were obtained in the course of this research, as filler loading increased, the hardness of the sample increased, while the percentage water adsorption increases with increase in filler loading. The storage modulus, loss modulus, damping, inflation and glass transition temperature to determine the dynamic and static properties on polyethylene/kenaf fibre and its application.