Asumani, O.M.L.Reid, R.G.Paskaramoorthy, R.2016-11-212016-11-212012-09Asumani, O. M. L., Reid, R. G. and Paskaramoorthy, R. 2012. The effects of alkali-silane treatment on the tensile and flexural properties of short fibre non-woven kenaf reinforced polypropylene composites. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing 43(9), pp. 1431-1440. DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesa.2012.04.0071359-835Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/10539/21460Kenaf fibre reinforced polypropylene composites were manufactured by compression moulding. The kenaf fibre was considered in three forms; untreated, treated with sodium hydroxide solution and treated with sodium hydroxide solution followed by three-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The effects of these chemical treatments on the tensile and flexural properties of the composites were investigated. Mechanical test results show that alkali treatment followed by three-aminopropyltriethoxysilane treatment (alkali-silane treatment) significantly improves the tensile and flexural properties of short fibre non-woven kenaf polypropylene composites. In particular, the specific tensile and flexural strengths of alkali-silane treated kenaf composites with 30% fibre mass fraction are, respectively, only 4% and 11% lower than those of composites made using glass fibre. Scanning electron microscopy examination shows that the improvements in the tensile and flexural properties resulting from alkali-silane treatment can be attributed to better bonding between the fibres and matrix.en©2011. Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Notice: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing..Kenaf fibreAlkali treatmentChemical treatmentsB. Fibre/matrix bondD. Mechanical testingE. Surface treatmenFlexural propertiesSodium hydroxide solutionsPostprint Article