Influence of Fly Ash and abaca fibre reinforcement on the mechanical and physical properties of polypropylene composites

Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable and high-performance materials has sparked significant interest in hybrid composites that incorporate natural fibres and industrial waste products. This study focuses on the fabrication and evaluation of polypropylene (PP) composites reinforced with abaca (Musa textilis) fibres and fly ash (FA) as a filler, with and without a compatibilizer. Composite samples were fabricated with different fibre contents while keeping the FA loading constant. Standard ASTM dimensions were used for preparing the specimens required for experimental testing. Mechanical and physical properties, including tensile, flexural, impact strength, hardness, density, water absorption, and void content, were systematically evaluated. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) analysis of the tensile fracture surfaces revealed that the addition of a compatibilizer improved the fibre–matrix interfacial adhesion and reduced the number of voids. The results demonstrated that composites with 7.5–10 wt.% abaca fibre and 3 wt.% compatibilizer exhibited optimal performance. This study provided the potential of abaca fibre and FA-based PP composites as lightweight, supportive sustainable material for applications in automotive, packaging, and consumer products.