Bending Properties of Date Palm Fiber and Jute Fiber Reinforced Polymeric Composite

In this research work, the effects of natural fibers such as date palm fiber (DF) and jute fiber (JF) on bending properties of polypropylene (PP)/ ethylene–propylene–diene–monomer (EPDM) thermoplastic elastomers are investigated. For this purpose, the date palm and jute fibers at five levels of fiber weight fractions (۰, ۵, ۱۰, ۲۰ and ۳۰ wt. %) are utilized during composite fabrication. Maleic anhydride grafted to polypropylene (MAPP) is used as coupling agent to increase the interfacial adhesion between the polymer and the fibers. Results show that by adding fiber to the matrix, the bending properties are increased, but elongation at break is decreased.