Influence of Alkali Treatment on Mechanical Properties of Foxtail Millet Husk Cellulose Fiber Filled with HDPE Composite Using Compression Moulding Process

Natural fiber composites have a vast significance in the modern era due to the combination of superior mechanical properties and low cost. The present research work deals with the fabrication of polymer-based composite with foxtail millet husk(FMH), and treated with four %wt of NaOH chemical concentration by varying FMH cellulose sizes of (150 μm, 300 μm and 450 μm),with constant 15 %wt of cellulose and 85 %wt HDPE. Impact test (IZOD), Tensile, and Flexural strength were considered to characterize mechanical properties on the fabricated composites. Experimental results revealed superior mechanical properties had been increased for 450 μm size cellulose composite i.e., at 450 μm cellulose filled with HDPE is better as compared with 150 μm and 300 μm cellulose filled with HDPE fabricated composites. By treating the husk with NaOH during the extraction of cellulose, observed fast reaction, and helps in quick extraction of cellulose from the husk. Also noted good bonding between matrix and the reinforcement thereby showed improvement in mechanical properties of the composite.