2. ECO-PCCM Second Meeting, Belgrade, 7-8 April 2005. Eco-Houses Based on Eco-Friendly Polymer Composite Construction Materials ECO-PCCM ISO 9001:2000 PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF KENAF FIBERS / PP COMPOSITES

3. ECO-PCCM Second Meeting, Belgrade, 7-8 April 2005. CompositionPcs Size, mm Thickness, mm Specific weight, kg/m 3 ISOLKENAF 50% kenaf, 35% polyester and 15% biocom 4 300 x 300 8 - 10 40 ISOLKENAF 70% kenaf, 30% polypropylene 6 300 x 400 8 - 10 60 ISOLKENAF 50% kenaf, 50% polypropylene 6 300 x 400 2580 ISOLKENAF 70% kenaf, 30% polypropylene 6 300 x 400 4040 ISOLKENAF 80% kenaf, 20% biocom 6 300 x 400 4040 ISOLKENAF 80% kenaf, 20% biocom 6 300 x 400 5050 ISOLKENAF 80% kenaf, 20% biocom 6 300 x 400 5045 ISOLKENAF 80% kenaf, 20% biocom Roll1200x10000 10 - 12 60 AVAILABILITY OF KENAF SAMPLES

4. ECO-PCCM Second Meeting, Belgrade, 7-8 April 2005. KENAF FIBERS PREFORMS

5. ECO-PCCM Second Meeting, Belgrade, 7-8 April 2005. PRODUCTION OF COMPOSITES Molding Line

6. ECO-PCCM Second Meeting, Belgrade, 7-8 April 2005. Hot plate Kenaf layers Press piston Press platen Polster Release foil Thermocouple PRODUCTION OF COMPOSITES

7. ECO-PCCM Second Meeting, Belgrade, 7-8 April 2005. Glass/epoxy skin PRODUCTION OF COMPOSITES Press Cycle: Temperature: 170 o C Pressure: 240 bar Time: 15 min Pure kenaf/PP composites 1 st Set 2 nd Set Purpose: - Increase stifness - Increase flex.strngth. - Decrease water absrp.

8. ECO-PCCM Second Meeting, Belgrade, 7-8 April 2005. PRODUCTION OF COMPOSITES  All the samples (150 x 300 mm) are prepared of 7 layers of Isolkenaf (80% kenaf, 20% bicomp) under the following conditions:  Press Cycle: Temperature: 170 o C Pressure: 240 bar Time: 15 min  The final composites were ~ 5 mm thick and weighted ~5.4 kg/m 2.  The size of the composite plates is chosen for best utilization of the material since the test specimen have to be 120 mm long.

9. ECO-PCCM Second Meeting, Belgrade, 7-8 April 2005. TESTING OF COMPOSITES Universal mechanical properties testing machine and Charpy impact tester

10. ECO-PCCM Second Meeting, Belgrade, 7-8 April 2005. STRESS-STRAIN CHART OF THE FLEXURAL TEST

11. ECO-PCCM Second Meeting, Belgrade, 7-8 April 2005. TESTING OF COMPOSITES PropertyTest MethodSingle ValuesAverage Specific gravity, g/cm 3 JUS G. S2. 510.93; 0.92; 0.93; 0.94; 0.93 0.93 Water absorption, %ISO/DP 967431.7; 27.1; 31.6; 31.5; 30.8 30.5 Fire resistanceUL 94burns Flexural strength, MPaDIN 5345735.0; 27.9; 26.7; 30.0; 30.6 30.1 Flexural modulus, GPaDIN 5345710.408; 7.830; 7.635; 10.067; 8.978 8.984

12. ECO-PCCM Second Meeting, Belgrade, 7-8 April 2005. TESTING OF COMPOSITES PropertyTest MethodSingle ValuesAverage Impact toughness, kJ/m 2 an 5 DIN 5345329.0; 31.2; 69.243.1 Impact toughness, kJ/m 2 an 15 DIN 5345339.2; 69.8;87.765.5 Compression strength, MPa DIN 5345419.0; 16.0; 14.0; 19.6; 18.6 17.4

13. ECO-PCCM Second Meeting, Belgrade, 7-8 April 2005. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION