Zinc Oxide Nano Particles Integrated Kenaf/Unsaturated Polyester BioComposite

Increasing need for materials with special features have brought various new inventions, one of the most promising hope for new material with special features and functionalities is composites materials. Thus, this study report an integration of zinc nanoparticles into kenaf/polyester polymer composite to introduce new behavior to the composite. The composite behaviors were compared for mechanical, thermal, moisture absorption and biodegradability properties. Prepared Zinc Oxide nanoparticles entrenched in the kenaf/polyestaer composites net structure through chemical bonds between kenaf/ZnO/polyester resin, existence of ZnO significantly influence the mechanical and thermals properties of composites. Thermal analysis based on (TGA) response revealed the integration of ZnO nanoparticles improved the thermal stability when thermal decomposition temperature beyond 3650 C. The thermal cracking decreased with present of ZnO and increase with kenaf content (layers). The modulus, Tensile strength, break at elongation, flexural modulus, flexural strength and impact strength of the composites with higher content kenaf/ZnO nanoparticle are 560 MPa, 58MPa, 1.8%, 1300 PMa, 68 MPa and 31 MPa, respectively. Thus, addition of kenaf layers and ZnO results in larger mechanical properties enhancement, the results of the contact angle show improvement in wetting of the fibres with addition of ZnO nanoparticles.