Characterization of Plastic Composite Based on HIPS Loaded with Bagasse

Elsayed, Essam; El-Sayed, Naglaa Salem; Nagiebb, Zenat; Ismael, Ahmed

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2017.1473.1099

Characterization of Plastic Composite Based on HIPS Loaded with Bagasse

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Cellulose and Paper Department. Chemical Industral Research Division, National Research Centre, 33 El Bohouth St. (former El Tahrir st.), Dokki, Giza,Egypt, P.O. 12622

² 33 Al-Tahrir St. Dokki, Giza

³ National Research Centre

⁴ National Research Centre, 30 El-Tahrir Street

10.21608/ejchem.2017.1473.1099

Abstract

The availability of natural fibers in Egypt such as bagasse, rice straw, corn husk, etc attracted the researcher interests to reutilize this agricultural biomass for the development of natural fiber reinforced composites for diversity valuable applications. Recently the utilization of bio-fillers in thermoplastics composites has increased. Polystyrene is a thermoplastic polymer that is commercially available with a wide range of high impact polystyrene (HIPS) applications in various fields because of its mechanical properties. So natural fiber reinforced thermoplastic polystyrene composites can be used as natural wood substitutes in housing, and constructions purposes. Herein we used sugarcane bagasse as a natural filler for HIPS. Where HIPS was melted and mixing with sugarcane bagasse at different ratios using screw extruder, then the fiber/polymer mixture was molded into standard test samples under pressure and heating. The effect of external effectors such as slight aqueous acidic, alkaline solutions, engine oil treatments or UV exposure on the mechanical properties of the prepared composites was investigated. Additionally, the impact of filler content on polystyrene thermal stability and morphological characteristics, water absorption, and swelling capacity were studied.

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