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Effect of alkali treatment on the flexural properties of Hildegardia fabric composites
Author(s) -
Guduri B. R.,
Rajulu A. V.,
Luyt A. S.
Publication year - 2006
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.23522
Subject(s) - flexural strength , composite material , materials science , flexural modulus , sodium hydroxide , epoxy , polycarbonate , composite number , silane , fiber , chemistry
A uniaxial natural fabric of Hildegardia populifolia was treated with 5% sodium hydroxide solution for 1 h, and the resulting changes were analyzed by polarized and scanning electron microscopic techniques. The untreated and treated H. populifolia fabric was reinforced in epoxy and toughened with 10% polycarbonate. The variation of the flexural strength and flexural modulus with different fabric contents and fiber orienrations was studied. The effect of sodium hydroxide and a silane coupling agent on the flexural properties of the composite was also studied. It was observed that the flexural properties increased on alkali treatment and when the coupling agent was used. The morphology of the cryogenically fractured surfaces indicated good bonding between the matrix and the reinforcement when a coupling agent was used. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 1297–1302, 2006