Hybrid PP composites reinforced with banana midrib fiber and rGO for enhanced mechanical and dielectric performance

In response to the increasing demand for eco-friendly and sustainable materials, this study presents the development of polypropylene (PP)-based hybrid eco-friendly nanocomposites reinforced with banana midrib fiber (BF) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO). BF are extracted from the midrib of banana leaf residue using a combination of thermal and chemical treatments. High degree of reduction rGO is synthesized from graphene oxide (GO) through a low-temperature thermal reduction process at 120 °C. The hybrid composites are fabricated via extrusion molding, ensuring uniform dispersion of the fillers. Significant enhancements in mechanical properties are achieved for PP composite at 7 wt% BF and 0.7 wt% rGO loading, where the increase in Young's modulus is ~ 138%, tensile strength is ~ 35%, flexural modulus is ~ 333%, and flexural strength is ~ 34% compared to neat PP. Electrical analysis showed a DC conductivity of ~ 8.4 mS/m and an AC conductivity of ~ 2.2 × 10⁻⁵ S/m, while the dielectric constant reached ~ 10.72 at 1 kHz of the composite. These results highlight the probable of BF/rGO-reinforced PP composites for lightweight, cost-effective, and supportable applications in automotive components and EMI shielding systems.