Investigation of the mechanical properties of Maize Cob Nanofiber of Sammaz-14 Variety Reinforced in LDPD/ LD-g-MAH /Org-MMT Nanocomposites

Abstract

In this research, maize cob nanofiber of sammaz-14 variety which where extracted via chemo-mechanical method (alkaline treatment and ball milling) are confirmed to be in nanoscale within the range of 1-100nm by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) were used as reinforcing/functional filler with 2% organically modified montmorillonite (Org-MMT) as additive and 3% (low density polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride) LD-g-MAH as compatibilizer in low density polyethylene (LDPE) to fabricate nanocomposites using injection molding technique. Mechanical properties such as: Tensile strength increased up to 1.3%, 2 % and modulus/ stiffness increased up to 200 % and 218 % at 5% filler loading for maize cob nanofibre (MC-NF) and Nanoclay (Org-MMT) respectively. Strength-to-weight- ratio increase with increase in MC-NF and decrease with increase in nanoclay. Flexural strength and hardness also increase with increase in filler loading. However, steady decrease was observed for elongation at break and impact strength with increase in filler loading.