POLYMER MATRIX IMPROVEMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS 

The commercial polymer matrix has some setback such as rigid and brittle, low toughness, low thermal and environmental stability resulting to limitation in the applications. Our aim is to physically and/ or chemically modified the commercial polymer matrix to improve the properties in which will result to the increase the number of applications of the polymer matrix system. In making those modifications, the cost factors will be taken into consideration where the modification made shall have no severe effect on the polymer matrix prices hoping to give a competitive alternative material.

POLYMER COMPOSITE AS IMPLANT MATERIALS  

The human implant, especially at the lower limb, mostly made of titanium and only a small part that is made from polymers. Looking at some disadvantages of the titanium, our research group is trying to find the most suitable (physical, mechanical & physiological compatible) polymer composites material with the possibility acting as an alternative materials to be considered since the polymer composite can be tailored to almost replicate the mechanical properties of the bones. The design and the materials can further simulate using FEA as to obtain the combination of best design and the type of polymer composites.

HYBRID REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITE SYSTEM 

Hybridization of the fillers or fibres in a polymer matrix to form polymer composite are the most common recipe in order to obtain a well balanced of the polymer composites properties and are being applied in most of the polymer composite research nowadays. It seems simple, nevertheless, the challenge of understanding the interaction and the behaviour of these fillers and/ or fibres as they are being put together is not that easy. New knowledge and understanding are expected to be shared among fellow researchers around the world in the effect of hybridization of nano-fillers, nano-/ micron fillers, particulate fillers (nano-/ micron fillers) with fibre system and hybrid fibre composite system.

BIO-BASED FILLED POLYMER COMPOSITES

When talking about a reduction of carbon footprint, one of the considerations is the usage of the bio-based material. For composite system, we use bio-base materials as fillers either in fibrous form or in particulate form. The study will be concentrated on the effect of incorporating these fillers into the polymer matrix and matching it to the possible product to be fabricated. Having said that, the research does not stop there, where we expend our observation into the fracture behaviour of the natural based fibre polymer composite system by identifying the individual type of fibre failure that might happen. With this information we hoped that the usage of bio-based filler system can further be enhanced - reducing cost and save our mother nature.