Utilization of banana stalk fiber as reinforcement in low density polyethylene composite

ABSTRACT Natural fibers could serve as viable and abundant alternatives to the expensive and non - renewable synthetic fibers as reinforcement in thermoplastic composites. The potentiality of banana stalk fiber at reinforcing a low density polyethylene matrix was examined in this study. Fibers were extracted from the stalk of banana plant and characterized for its chemical composition and fiber contents. The fibers were modified by pulping with caustic soda to increase it wettability. The fiber dimension was measured using a binocular light microscope. FTIR spectra was used to identify the fun...