Present study investigates the effect of fiber loading and potassium chromium (III) sulfate treatment on morphological, mechanical and water uptake properties of lignocellulosic kenaf fiber reinforced polyvinyl alcohol biocomposites. Kenaf fiber was chemically treated with potassium chromium (III) sulfate in two stage treatment procedures in order to improve the adhesion and compatibility between the kenaf fiber and PVA matrix. Both untreated and treated kenaf samples at different mixing ratios (0, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt%) were utilized to prepare the composites using solution casting technique. Morphological analyses, mechanical and moisture uptake tests were subsequently conducted. Scanning electron microscopic analysis on the surface of composites indicates that chemical treatment improved the uniform distribution of kenaf fiber within the PVA matrix. Mechanical properties of the biocomposites prepared from treated kenaf fiber were better compared to those of untreated biocomposites. The tensile strength decreased, while the Young’s modulus, flexural strength and flexural modulus increased with fiber loading for both untreated and treated kenaf-PVA biocomposites. Additionally, chemically treated samples had better moisture barrier characteristics than those of untreated ones.
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