Mechanical and electrical properties of heterogenous four-components combining bagasse, polyethylene, natural rubber and titanium dioxide

Sisal fibre is a promising material to be used as a filler to enhance the polymer matrix composites due to its low cost, low density, high specific strength and modulus, no health risk, easy availability in some countries and renewability. In this study, sisal composites were manufactured from NaOH (1.0%) treated sisal fibres, natural rubber (NR), low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and titanium dioxide (TiO2). The influence of fibre loading on the tensile strength as well as the electrical properties has been evaluated. The electrical performance was tested through the partial discharge (PD) characterization utilizing CIGRE Method II test. Our results showed that the addition of sisal fibre not only enhanced the mechanical properties of sisal composite but also lowered the PD activity of the composites. It is demonstrated that the composites containing 16.0 wt% sisal fibre, 46.0 wt% LDPE, 31.0 wt% NR and 7.0 wt% TiO2 can be used as an electrically insulating high strength material.