Examining the Mechanical Characteristics of Sammaz-14 variety Maize Cob Nanofiber Reinforced in LDPE/LD-g-MAH/Org-MMT Nanocomposites

Abstract

In this research, maize cob nanofiber of sammaz-14 variety which were extracted via the chemo-mechanical method (alkaline treatment  and ball milling) are confirmed to be in nanoscale within the range of 1-100 nm by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Field Emission  Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM). They were used as reinforcing/functional filler with 2% organically modified montmorillonite  (Org-MMT) as an additive and 3 % (low-density polyethylene grafted maleic anhydride) LD-g-MAH as compatibilizer in low density  polyethylene (LDPE) to fabricate nanocomposites using injection moulding technique. Mechanical properties such as (Tensile strength,  modulus, specific strength, Flexural strength, hardness, elongation and impact strength). Tensile strength increased up to 1.3 % at 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 increases in MC-NF and decreases 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 an increase in filler loading.