Preparation and Characterization of Hybrid Biocomposite Based on Woven Palm-Cotton Fibers and Used Expanded Polystyrene Beads

The ecological and environmental alertness has driven efforts for the development of novel materials like bio-composites for various end-use applications. In the present study, the hybrid bio composite, woven palm-cotton fiber (WPCF) reinforced in expanded poly styrene (EPS) foam matrix has been prepared and the potential of polystyrene foam waste as a matrix in biodegradable composite material was investigated. The WPCF/EPS bio composite has been prepared by a simple dip-up method. Mechanical, thermal, hydrophilic and morphological properties of the prepared bio composites have been analyzed by varying the weight percentage of Poly styrene composition. The results showed that WPCF/EPS hybrid bio composites are thermally stable up to 300 °C. The sample containing 40% EPS have shown maximum thermal stability. All samples exhibited good mechanical properties such as tensile properties, elongation at break and modulus of elasticity. SEM analysis showed better dispersion between the fiber and the matrix in optimum weight percentage of EPS containing sample (20%) and it revealed that micro structure and morphology of the sample was not improved by an increase in weight % of EPS. The properties exhibited by WPCF/EPS bio-composites showed similar mechanical properties on par with other natural fiber reinforced hybrid composite.