Development of Biocomposites from Cocoa Pod Husk and Polypropylene: Effect of Filler Content and 3-Aminopropyltriethoxylsilane

Abstract

Cocoa pod husk (CPH) is a waste material from cocoa industry. This work describes the development of biocomposites from polypropylene and cocoa pod husk. 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3-APE) is used as coupling agent in filler treatment of CPH. The treated CPH with 3-APE had raised the stabilization torque of PP/CPH biocomposites. The results of tensile test and scanning electron microscope (SEM) indicated that 3-APE given coupling effect on PP/ CPH biocomposites. The presence of covalent bonds between CPH and 3-APE was confirmed by Fourier transmission infra-red (FTIR) analysis, while the improvement of thermal stability and crystallization were evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).