본 연구에서는 전처리 조건에 따른 케나프/폴리프로필렌(PP) 바이오 복합재료의 특성 변화를 분석하였다. 케나프 섬유는 NaOH 농도(2–6 wt.%) 및 H-factor( 800) 기반의 중간 가혹도(moderate severity) 알칼리 조건과 산(H2SO4) 조건에서 처리되었으며, NREL 표준 방법을 이용한 HPLC 분석을 통해 화학 조성을 정량화 하였고, 복합재료의 열적 및 기계적 특성은 열중량분석(TGA)과 인장강도 시험을 통해 분석하였다. 연구 결과 알칼리 전처리에 의해 케나프 섬유 내 리그닌 및 헤미셀룰로오스 함량이 효과적으로 감소하였으며, 이는 섬유-매트릭스 간의 계면 결합 특성 개선으로 이어졌다. 복합재료의 인장강도는 섬유 함량 30wt.%까지 유의미하게 향상되었으나, 40 wt.% 조건에서는 증가 폭이 감소하는 경향을 보였다. 열적 분석 결과, 전처리 조건에 따라 케나프 성분의 열분해 거동에는 차이가 나타났으나 PP 매트릭스의 열적 안정성은 비교적 유지되었다. 또한 적절한 전처리 조건과 섬유 함량에서 복합재료의 인장강도가 향상되었으며, 이를 통해 케나프/PP 바이오 복합재료의 최적 제조 조건을 도출하였다.

This study investigated the effects of pretreatment conditions on the properties of kenaf/polypropylene (PP) biocomposites. Kenaf fibers were treated under alkaline conditions with moderate severity (NaOH 2–6 wt.%, Hfactor  800) and acidic conditions. The chemical composition changes were quantitatively analyzed using NREL standard methods, ensuring the reliability of the data, while the thermal and mechanical properties of the biocomposites were evaluated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and tensile testing, respectively. The results showed that alkali pretreatment effectively reduced lignin and hemicellulose contents, leading to improved interfacial bonding between the fibers and the PP matrix. The tensile strength increased significantly with fiber loading up to 30 wt.%, while a decrease in the enhancement rate was observed at 40 wt.%, which could be explained by the theoretical rule of mixtures and fiber

agglomeration. Thermal analysis revealed that pretreatment influenced the thermal degradation behavior of kenaf components, whereas the thermal stability of the PP matrix was largely maintained.

Kenaf fiber, Pretreatment, Polypropylene, Biocomposites, Mechanical properties

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