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 Materials and Design 40 (2012) 299–303

Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect

Materials and Design

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/matdes

Short Communication

Influence of fiber content on the mechanical and thermal properties of Kenaf

fiber reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane composites
Y.A. El-Shekeil a,⇑, S.M. Sapuan a, K. Abdan b, E.S. Zainudin c
a
Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
b
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
c
Laboratory of Bio-Composite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: The aim of this paper is to study the influence of fiber content on mechanical (i.e. tensile, flexural, impact,
Received 21 February 2012 hardness and abrasion resistance) and thermal (i.e. TGA) properties of Kenaf bast fiber reinforced thermo-
Accepted 1 April 2012 plastic polyurethane (TPU) composites. The composite was prepared by melt-mixing method, followed
Available online 11 April 2012
by compression molding process. Different fiber loadings were prepared; namely, 20%, 30%, 40%, and
50% weight percent. A 30% fiber loading exhibited the best tensile strength, while modulus increased
with increase of fiber content, and strain deteriorated with increase of fiber content. Flexural strength
and modulus increased with increase of fiber loading. Increase of fiber loading resulted in decline in
impact strength. Hardness increased by addition of 30% fiber content. Abrasion resistant decreased with
increase of fiber loading. Fiber loading decreased thermal stability of the composite.
Ó 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
Natural fibers have gained a considerable attention due to ben-
efits such as less abrasiveness to equipment, renewability, biode-
gradability, less health hazards and reduction in weight and cost.
In composite materials critical fiber loading is required to make
effectiveness in load transfer between fibers and matrix.
Polyurethane thermoset was reinforced with, flax and jute [1],
oil palm empty fruit bunch [2–5], rice husk [6], hard wood [7], sisal
[8]. Thermoplastic polyurethane has been reinforced with syn-
thetic fibers such as glass [9], aramid [10] and carbon fiber [11].
TPU was reinforced with natural fibers only in these laboratories
[12].
Thermoplastic polyurethane’s most important properties are
excellent abrasion resistance, good mechanical properties with
rubber-like elasticity and tear resistance. Main components of
polyurethane are polyols and isocyanates. Isocyanate active group
NCO is eager to react with hydroxyl, in case of Kenaf it will react
with OH group of the cellulose.
Kenaf was chosen because of its good mechanical properties.
Kenaf, as well as other natural fibers, can play an important role
in substitution of wood which is harvested once in 20 or 25 years
[13], while Kenaf plant can be harvested 2–3 times a year. It can
grow to reach 3–4 meters within 4–5 months. Kenaf plant has
three layers bast, core, and pith. Kenaf bast represents one third
⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +60 176211554.
E-mail address: y_shekeil@yahoo.com (Y.A. El-Shekeil).
of the plant. Core and pith represent the rest. Kenaf bast fiber
has been reported to have superior mechanical properties than
the other parts of the plant [14]. A recent review was conducted
for Kenaf reinforced composites [15].
To utilize natural fiber-reinforced composites, it is necessary to
compromise a balance of strength, stiffness, and toughness. This is
the first essential step in designing composite materials. Lots of
work has been done to study the effect of fiber loading on the
mechanical properties [16–19]. Thermal properties are important
to understand the behavior of the raw materials and the final prod-
uct [20]. Effect of fiber content on thermal properties was studied
previously [8,20,21]. Hardness and abrasion resistance are also
important. Hardness property gives material high resistance to
various kinds of shape change when force is applied [22]. TPU
represents one of the best abrasion resistance materials in the elas-
tomeric sector. Thus, effect of fiber addition on hardness and abra-
sion resistance is to be taken into consideration when studying
TPU/KF composite. Therefore, this research aims to study the effect
of fiber loading in tensile properties, flexural properties, impact
strength, thermal properties, together with hardness and abrasion
resistance.
2. Materials
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was a gift from Bayer Co.
(Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Characteris-
tics of TPU are shown in Table 1. Kenaf V36 bast fiber was obtained
from KEFI (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Setiu, Terengganu, Malaysia. Proper-
ties of Kenaf used are shown in Table 2 [23].

0261-3069/$ - see front matter Ó 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2012.04.003
300 Y.A. El-Shekeil et al. / Materials and Design 40 (2012) 299–303
Table 1
Characteristics of TPU.
Specific gravity Tensile strength Melting temperature
1.21 48 MPa 210 °C
3. Methods
3.1. Fiber preparation
Bast fiber was extracted by mechanical decortication. Pulver-
ized fibers were sieved using an auto shaker sieve into size range
between 125 and 300 lm using mesh 50–120. Fiber was pulver-
ized using Fritsch Pulverisette mill. This fiber size was based on
optimum tensile, flexural and impact strengths [12]. Lengths and
diameters of fibers were measured using (Leica MS 5 microscope).
Distribution of three hundred fibers length, diameter and aspect
ratio (L/D) is shown in Fig. 1.
3.2. Composite preparation
TPU/KF was prepared using blending, followed by compression
molding process. Haake polydrive R600 was used in the mixing
process at the optimum processing parameters 190 °C, 11 min
and 40 rpm, temperature, time and rotating speed; respectively
[12]. Vechno Vation 40 ton compression molding machine was
used in the compression molding. The samples were pre-heated
for 7 min at 190 °C. Then they were full pressed for 10 min at
190 °C. Finally, they were cold-pressed for 5 min at 25 °C. Different
fiber loadings were prepared; namely, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%.
3.3. Mechanical characterization
Tensile and three point bending flexural tests were conducted
using Instron 3365 machine, according to ASTM D 638 [24], and
ASTM 790 [25], respectively. Specimens of tensile were cut into
dumbbell shapes using a hydraulic cutter, while flexural specimens
were cut using a band saw with dimensions of 150  13  3 mm.
Five specimens were tested with crosshead speed of 5 mm/min
for tensile and 2 mm/min for flexural.
Notched impact strength was measured by 43-02-01 Monitor
Impact Tester, according to ASTM D 256 [26]. At least, five speci-
mens were cut into 63  13  3 mm. Impact strength (kJ/m2) was
calculated by dividing the recorded absorbed impact energy by
the cross-section area of the samples.
Pure matrix and 30% fiber loading samples were tested using ta-
ber abrasion machine. One specimen was tested for each sample.
The test was done for 1000 cycles according to ASTM D 4060 [27].
Pure matrix and 30% fiber loading samples were tested using
hardness shore D. The test was repeated at least 10 times for each
specimen. The dimensions of the specimens were 60  60  6 mm.
The test was carried out according to ASTM D 2240 [28].
3.4. Thermogravimetric analysis
TG tests were carried out using a Mettler Toledo TGA/SDTA851e
analyzer. The tests were performed in the temperature range
between room temperature and 600 °C at a heating rate of 10 °C/
min in an atmosphere of nitrogen, flowing at 10 ml/min. A sample
of 5–20 mg of the materials was heated in the sample pan.
Table 2
Mechanical properties and chemical composition of Kenaf [23].
Tensile strength (MPa) Tensile modulus (GPa) Tensile elongation (%)
930 53 1.6
4. Results and discussion
Hardness 4.1. Effect of fiber loading on tensile properties of TPU/KF composites
55D
Fig. 2 demonstrates the effect of fiber loading on the tensile
properties of TPU/KF composite. The 20% fiber loading showed
the lowest strength and modulus; however it showed the highest
strain. The 30% fiber content showed the highest strength. At the
40% and 50% fiber loading strength and strain deteriorated with in-
crease in modulus.
Several factors influence strength of composites, such as,
strengths of fibers and matrix, fiber volume fraction and fiber–ma-
trix interfacial bonding. Fibers work as carriers of load in the ma-
trix. Good tensile strength depends more on effective and
uniform stress distribution [29]. It can be observed from Fig. 2 that
low fiber loading resulted in low tensile strength. This is attributed
to the lack of ability of fibers to transfer the load to one another. In
other words, at low fiber content, the effect of crack initiation was
more dominant as compared to the effect of crack inhibition [30].
Strength of the composite is increased at the 30% fiber loading to
a maximum value of 33.5 MPa. This is attributed to a better fi-
ber–matrix interfacial bonding. At intermediate fiber content the
fibers effectively participate in the stress transfer [29]. The 40%
and 50% loadings have shown lower strength by about 19% and
25%, respectively. At the higher fiber loading, the fibers are not suf-
ficiently wetted by the matrix, and the increased population of fi-
bers leads to agglomeration and stress transfer gets blocked
[29,31]. Increasing the fiber loading resulted in increase of tensile
modulus. The composite consists of low stiffness matrix with high
stiffness filler (i.e. fibers), thus by increasing the volume of fibers
the stiffness increases; that is a logical trend. Strain showed
decreasing trend when increasing fiber loading. This is also a nor-
mal consequence of the increase of fibers volume which is having a
low strain (Kenaf strain is 1.6% [23]).
4.2. Effect of fiber loading on flexural properties of TPU/KF composites
Fig. 3 displays the effect of fiber loading on the flexural proper-
ties of TPU/KF composite. The flexural strength and modulus
showed increasing trend with increasing fiber loading. Flexural
strength is low in an elastomeric material like TPU; TPU flexural
strength 6.55 MPa. When introducing Kenaf fibers to TPU it is
normal to have increase in flexural strength. By the rules of mix-
ture, flexural strength and modulus will increase by increasing fi-
ber content [29]. Different from tensile strength which increased
in intermediate fiber loading, flexural strength increased with in-
crease of fiber loading. Tensile strength represents one type of
stress works in one direction. Tensile strength can give a good indi-
cation to the interfacial bonding between fibers and matrix. In flex-
ural properties failure takes place in a complicated manner. Failure
is a result of two stresses that occur at the two sides of the bending
specimen; simultaneously with shear stress at the axisymmetric
plane [29,32,33].
4.3. Effect of fiber loading on impact strength of TPU/KF composites
Impact strength showed a negative effect by increase of fiber
fraction (Fig. 4). This is attributed to the high impact resistance
of neat TPU, so that in low fiber loading the composite shows high-
er impact strength. However, increase of fiber fraction causes lack
Extractive (%) Holocellulose (%) a-Celluloses (%) Lignin (%) Ash (%)
5.5 86.8 55 14.7 5.4
 Y.A. El-Shekeil et al. / Materials and Design 40 (2012) 299–303 301

Fig. 1. (a) Distribution of fiber length, (b) distribution of fiber diameter, and (c) distribution of fiber aspect ratio.

Fig. 2. Effect of fiber loading on tensile properties of TPU/KF composites. Fig. 3. Effect of fiber loading on flexural properties of TPU/KF composites.
302 Y.A. El-Shekeil et al. / Materials and Design 40 (2012) 299–303
Fig. 4. Effect of fiber loading on impact strength of TPU/KF composites.
of energy absorbance. Thermoplastics when combined with short
natural fibers less of impact strength is usually observed [34].
Strain of the composite also plays a major role in the impact
strength. It is observable from Fig. 2 that strain is decreasing with
increase of fiber loading. Hence, impact strength is also decreasing
with increase of fiber loading.
4.4. Effect of fiber loading on hardness and abrasion resistance of TPU/
KF composites
Hardness was tested for pure TPU and 30% fiber loading. The re-
sults show that adding 30% of fibers to the TPU increased the hard-
ness from 55 (shore D) for the pure to 66 (shore D) for the TPU/KF
30%. There is a proportional correlation between the modulus and
hardness. This is because hardness is a function of the relative fiber
volume and modulus [22]. It was noticed in this study that modu-
lus is increasing with increase of fiber loading (Fig. 2). Previous
studies reported the same trend [22,35].
Table 3 shows the effect of abrasion resistance when adding
30% fiber loading into the TPU. It is clear that weight loss was in-
creased by fiber addition. Weight loss is more than six times after
fiber addition. It is well known that abrasion resistance of poly-
mers decreases with short fiber reinforcement [36,37]. The
increase of weight loss by fiber loading is in agreement with previ-
ous studies [37,38]. There is an inversely proportional relationship
with hardness which is also in line with the present study; where,
hardness increased and abrasion decreased with fiber addition.
Tearing small pieces of materials is involved during abrasion pro-
cess, therefore tensile strength and elongation and fatigue life are
important factors in determining abrasion resistance of the mate-
rial. Reinforcement with fibers increases the strength (r) of the
material, however it decreases the strain (d). So that the product
(rd) usually decreases [37,38]. This is the reason why abrasive
property of TPU/KF is negatively affected by the reinforcement.
4.5. Effect of fiber loading on TGA of TPU/KF composite
Fig. 5 shows that the TG curves of Kenaf shows three mass loss
steps. The first mass loss step, in the range 31–153 °C, is due to
evaporation of about 9.5% of moisture. The second and third mass
Table 3
Effect of fiber addition on abrasion resistance.
Pure TPU TPU/KF 30%
Weight before (g) 45.6585 43.9813
Weight after (g) 45.6530 43.9489
Weight loss (g) 0.0055 0.0324
Weight loss (%) 0.012 0.074
Fig. 5. Effect of fiber loading on TGA of TPU/KF composites.
loss steps, at 194–330 °C and 305–386 °C, are due to the decompo-
sition of the three major constituents of the natural fibers; lignin,
hemicellulose and cellulose [21].
Several mass loss steps of pure TPU occur in the range 250–
539 °C. DTG (Fig. 6) shows the main temperature peak of the com-
plicated decomposition of TPU around 363 °C. This peak is because
of the scission of polyol–isocyanate bond formed during polymer-
ization, after that isocyanate vaporizes and re-condenses as a
smoke while polyol remains to further decompose later [39].
Fig. 5 shows that increase of fibers decreased the thermal stabil-
ity, compared to pure TPU. In case of Kenaf fiber, dehydration and
degradation of lignin occurred around 197–386 °C and maximum
percentage of cellulose was found to decompose at a temperature
of 357.5 °C.
Decomposition temperature range of TPU, between 250 and
539 °C, was comparatively higher than that of the fibers. At the
TPU/KF 20% fiber loading, the first peak occurs between 246 and
369 °C, with a threshold at 346 °C. The second decomposition step,
in the range 369–450 °C with maximum at 398 °C, and the third
peak between 450 and 509 °C with a maximum at 474 °C. All these
peaks correspond to a weight loss of about 79.8%. At the TPU/KF
30% fiber loading, the first peak, between 240 and 357 °C, with a
maximum at 345 °C, the second decomposition step, in the range
357–380 °C, with a maximum at 369 °C, the third peak between
380 and 445 °C with a maximum at 392 °C, the last decomposition
step, in the range 445–509 °C, with a maximum at 468 °C. The
decomposition steps in 20% and 30% fiber loading, were very fast
with complicated degradation, with a weight loss of about 79.8%.
Fig. 6. Effect of fiber loading on DTG of TPU/KF composites.
 Y.A. El-Shekeil et al. / Materials and Design 40 (2012) 299–303
For the TPU/KF 40% and 50% fiber loading, similar behavior was
noticed as seen Fig. 5. Both decomposed rapidly with a complicated
decomposition, in the range 217–509 °C, with maximum at 340,
363, 392 and 474 °C and a weight loss of about 80%.
The behavior of the composition of TPU/KF 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%
can be attributed to dehydration from cellulose unit and thermal
cleavage of glycosidic linkage by transglycosylation and scission
of C–O and C–C bonds at low temperatures [21]. The high temper-
ature decomposition is primarily attributed to aromatization,
involving dehydration reactions [21].
5. Conclusions
Varying fiber loading resulted in different mechanical and ther-
mal properties of TPU/KF. Testing fiber loading included 20%, 30%,
40% and 50% by weight. The specific following conclusions can be
drawn from this study:
(1) Tensile strength which indicates to matrix/fiber interfacial
bonding was best for 30% fiber loading. Tensile modulus
showed an increasing trend with increase of fiber loading.
Tensile strain showed a decreasing trend with increase of
fiber loading.
(2) Flexural strength and modulus showed an increasing trend
with increase of fiber content.
(3) Impact strength deteriorated with increase in fiber loading.
(4) It can be said that 30% fiber loading is the optimum fiber
loading, because it exhibited the best tensile strength, and
it showed negligible decrease in impact strength compared
to 20% fiber loading.
(5) Hardness increased with addition of 30% fiber loading.
(6) Abrasion resistance decreased with addition of 30% fiber
loading.
(7) Thermal stability was decreased by increase of fiber loading;
however thermal stability of composites was much better
than Kenaf fibers.
Acknowledgments
Parts of this paper have been presented in the Eighth Interna-
tional Conference of Composite Science and Technology ICCST8,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 2011. Fundamental Research Grant
Scheme (FRGS), Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia grant num-
ber (01-10-10-924FR) is acknowledged for support of this study.
The authors wish to thank Bayer Co. (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Petaling
Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia for the TPU supply and information.
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