Investigating the characteristics of wood-plastic composites made from bagasse

In this study, the possibility of making a composite from bagasse was investigated. Bagasse-polypropylene fiber samples with different bagasse percentages (15, 25, and 35%) and coupling agent (0, 1.5, and 3%) were made, and their mechanical properties were examined. The results showed that with an increase in bagasse fibers, the flexural strength and tensile modulus did not change significantly, but the modulus of elasticity and energy at the breaking point decreased significantly, but the tensile strength increased. The results of the impact resistance test showed that although the impact resistance decreased and increased slightly with an increase in the percentage of bagasse fibers and coupling agent, this amount of decrease and increase was very small and insignificant, and the results of this test were random and unrelated to the increase in raw materials. However, in the impact resistance test without a notch, a significant difference in the decrease in impact resistance was observed with an increase in fibers and its increase with an increase in coupling agent. Overall, all measured engineering properties in this study improved, except for impact resistance, which decreased with an increase in fibers. It is suggested that to improve the engineering properties of this type of composite, the bagasse percentage and coupling agent should be increased up to 30% and 3%, respectively.