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Polymer deposition in sisal fibers: A structural investigation
Author(s) -
Barkakaty B. C.,
Robson A.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.1979.070240124
Subject(s) - materials science , polymer , scanning electron microscope , composite material , sisal , ultimate tensile strength , methyl methacrylate , fiber , methacrylate , acrylate , copolymer , natural fiber , butyl acrylate , polymer chemistry
Sisal (Agave sisalana) fibers were graft copolymerized with certain vinyl monomers (methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate) using gamma irradiation and ceric ammonium nitrate as initiation techniques. Examinations of the surface topology and the internal structure of the grafted fibers made by scanning electron microscopy. The results derived from the SEM observations on transverse sections of the grafted fibers were supplemented by information obtained by polarized light microscopy. Polymer was deposited not only on the surface of the fiber substrate, but also in the lumen, the middle lamellae, and throughout the cell wall network of the multicellular aggregates. The degree of polymer inclusion in the lumen (which is the most conspicuous of all the available internal sites) was found to depend on the percentage graft copolymer add‐on, as well as on the previous history of the fiber (natural or chemically modified). The mechanical properties of the grafted fibers were investigated (by means of an Instron tensile tester).