Optimization of Hot Press Parameters on Tensile Strength for Unidirectional Long Kenaf Fiber Reinforced Polylactic-Acid Composite

Processing conditions are one of the factors that significantly influences the properties and characteristics of the polymer matrix composites products. Therefore, the suitable processing parameters must be selected in order to yield the optimum properties of the composite products. In this work, Box-Behnken Design (BBD) was selected as experimental design approach. Biodegradable composites from unidirectional long kenaf fibre reinforced polylactic-acid were fabricated by hot pressing method. Response surface methodology (RSM) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to optimize as well as determine the significance of the factors affecting the tensile strength. Three factors studied were pressure, temperature and heating time at three different levels. The experimental results showed that all three factors are the significant processing parameters affecting the strength of composite. The combination of hot pressing parameters for optimum tensile strength was 200oC temperature, 3MPa pressure, and heating time at 8 minutes. Confirmation runs test yield error less than 7% verified the validity of the model.