Effect of Fibre Length on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Sisal / Polyethylene Composites

Composites of sisal fibres with polyethylene polymer chips were prepared at 50% fibre weight with varying lengths of the sisal fibres and the physical and mechanical properties of the composites were determined. The results of the physical properties show that moisture uptake of the composites initially increases from 0 to 60% as the fibre length increased from 0 to 5 mm and there after remained about the same. Density was observed to decrease initially at 5 mm and then steadily increased. The hardness and thickness was increased with increase in fibre length. Young's modulus, breaking load and breaking extension increased as the length of fibres in composite increased from 10 mm length, while work of rupture increased with increase in fibre length from about 5 mm. Keywords: composites, sisal fibre, fibre length, physical properties, mechanical properties.