SYNTHESIS OF POLYPROPYLENE HYBRID COMPOSITE BASED ON AGAVE AMERICANA, STARCH AND NANO-TALC USING TWIN SCREW EXTRUDER

In this research, hybrid composites of Agave Americana fibres, starch and nano-talc reinforced Polypropylene (PP) have been prepared by melt compounding reactive blending using maleic anhydride grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MA) as compatiblizer in co-rotating twin screw extruder. Sustainability, eco-friendly and green chemistry are guiding forces behind the development of this hybrid-composites. The bio-based material obtained from renewable and agriculture waste can form the basis of new generation composite materials that can compete with currently dominated composites. The dispersion, thermal, and morphological properties of natural fibre in thermoplastic starch and polypropylene has been investigated. The chemical structure has been analyzed by FTIR and morphology of hybrid composites shows the uniform dispersion of natural fibre in the polypropylene matrix along with potato starch.