Effect of alkaline treatment on the thermal and mechanical properties of sugar palm fibre reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane composites.

This study examines the impact of alkaline treatment on the mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of sugar palm fiber (SPF)-reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) composites. SPF fibers (250 μm) were treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solutions of 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6% (w/w) for 90 min at room temperature. These fibers were then mixed with TPU in an extruder at 180-200 °C and molded into composite sheets using compression molding at 190 °C, 10 MPa pressure, and a 10-minute holding time.