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Ageing studies of pineapple leaf fiber–reinforced polyester composites
Author(s) -
Uma Devi L.,
Joseph Kuruvila,
Manikandan Nair K. C.,
Thomas Sabu
Publication year - 2004
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.20924
Subject(s) - composite material , materials science , ultimate tensile strength , absorption of water , ageing , fiber , polyester , composite number , diffusion , natural fiber , thermal stability , chemistry , genetics , physics , organic chemistry , biology , thermodynamics
This experimental study evaluated the water absorption characteristics of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF)–polyester composites of different fiber content. The degree of water absorption was found to increase with fiber loading. The mechanism of diffusion was analyzed and the effect of fiber loading on the sorption kinetics was studied. The diffusion coefficient was calculated and found to increase with fiber content. Studies were also made to correlate water absorption with the cross‐sectional areas of the specimens. The effects of ageing on the tensile properties and dimensional stability of PALF polyester composites were studied under two different ageing conditions. Ageing studies showed a decrease in tensile strength of the composites. The composite specimens subjected to thermal ageing showed only a slight deterioration in strength. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 503–510, 2004