Study the influence of reinforcement loading and orientation on the properties of date palm -reinforced plastic composite.

Abstract

In our study, we aimed to enhance the strength and durability of recycled plastic by investigating the impact of natural date palm fiber orientation and loading. We created reinforced composites using date palm fibers in two forms (mesh and petiole) and incorporated them into recycled plastic at loadings of 4%, 6%, 10%, and 20%. Various fiber orientations (-45, 45, 0, 90, and random) were tested. We measured the strength of the composite samples using a "Z050" tensile testing machine and compared it to that of ordinary recycled plastic.Our findings showed that the addition of fibers generally improved the Young's modulus, with values ranging from 0.919 to 3.125 MPa. For petiole fibers, the Young's modulus ranged from 1.717 to 1.869 MPa, with the highest value achieved at 20% fiber loading and 0/0 orientation. For mesh fibers, the Young's modulus ranged from 1.838 to 3.125 MPa, with the best result at 6% fiber loading and 0/0 orientation. This indicates that adding fibers increases the strength of recycled plastic, with the 0/0 fiber orientation yielding the best results. However, beyond a certain fiber loading, the fibers weaken and lose some properties.Microscopic examination revealed good adhesion between the matrix and the date palm fibers in the composite samples. This study concludes that fiber reinforcement, particularly at optimal orientations and loadings, significantly enhances the mechanical properties of recycled plastic