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Surface‐modified sisal fiber‐reinforced eco‐friendly composites: Mechanical, thermal, and diffusion studies
Author(s) -
P.A. Sreekumar,
Joseph Kuruvilla,
G. Unnikrishnan,
Thomas Sabu
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.21028
Subject(s) - materials science , composite material , compression molding , sisal , flexural strength , ultimate tensile strength , fiber , thermal stability , scanning electron microscope , silanization , izod impact strength test , mold , physics , quantum mechanics
To improve the fiber/matrix interaction, sisal fibers were subjected to various chemical and physical modifications such as mercerization, heating at 100°C, permanganate treatment, benzoylation, and silanization. Polyester composites were fabricated using compression molding. Tensile and flexural properties increased for every treated fiber‐reinforced composites with a reduction in the impact strength. This is attributed to the improved interfacial adhesion between fiber and polyester matrix. An increase in thermal stability was observed for the treated fiber‐reinforced composites especially at lower temperature. Significant reduction in water uptake occurred for the treated fiber‐reinforced composites at 30°C and 90°C. Scanning electron micrograph studies have been used to substantiate the above observations. POLYM. COMPOS., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers