In recent years, considerable attention has been given to the development and utilisation of natural fibres. This study examines the investigation of hemp fibre reinforced composites with competitive mechanical properties. The growing trials in the Eastern Cape (CSIR) are opening up the possibility of these fibres becoming available locally in the near future. Also, new commercial polypropylene random copolymers were used as matrices in this study, because they can be processed at lower temperatures when compared with other commercial propylene copolymers.

The composites were produced by extrusion compounding in a single screw extruder. The pellets obtained were further processed into tensile test bars by injection moulding. A fibre content of 5-30% could be achieved. Composite samples with a fibre content in the range of 10% to 30% exhibited good mechanical and thermal properties. In most cases mechanical and thermal properties of South African long hemp fibre composites were found to compare quite well with the French bleached and cottonised hemp fibres.