The influence of fibre treatment on the performance of coir-polyester composites

Published Date
July 2001, Vol.61(9):1303–1310, doi:10.1016/S0266-3538(01)00021-5

Author 

J. Rout ^a

M. Misra ^b

S.S. Tripathy ^a

S.K. Nayak ^c

A.K. Mohanty ^b,,

• aPolymer and Composite Laboratory, Post Graduate Department of Chemistry, Ravenshaw College (Autonomous), Cuttack 753003, Orissa, India
• bComposite Materials and Structures Center, Michigan State University, 2100 Engineering Building, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
• cCentral Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology, B-25, CNI Complex, Patia, Bhubaneswar, Orissa, India

Received 19 June 2000. Revised 18 January 2001. Accepted 13 February 2001. Available online 11 July 2001.

Abstract

Surface modifications of coir fibres involving alkali treatment, bleaching, and vinyl grafting are made in view of their use as reinforcing agents in general-purpose polyester resin matrix. The mechanical properties of composites like tensile, flexural and impact strength increase as a result of surface modification. Among all modifications, bleached (65°C) coir-polyester composites show better flexural strength (61.6 MPa) whereas 2% alkali-treated coir/polyester composites show significant improvement in tensile strength (26.80 MPa). Hybrid composites comprising glass fibre mat (7 wt.%), coir fibre mat (13 wt.%) and polyester resin matrix are prepared. Hybrid composites containing surface modified coir fibres show significant improvement in flexural strength. Water absorption studies of coir/polyester and hybrid composites show significant reduction in water absorption due to surface modifications of coir fibres. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations show that surface modifications improve the fibre/matrix adhesion.

Keywords

Surface modification

Coir-polyester composite

Hybrid composite

Mechanical properties

Water absorption

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 Table 2

Table 2.

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• * 
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Tensile mechanical properties, morphological aspects and chemical characterization of piassava (Attalea funifera) fibers

Published Date
September 2006, Vol.37(9):1473–1479, doi:10.1016/j.compositesa.2005.03.035

Author 

J.R.M. d’Almeida ^a,,

R.C.M.P. Aquino ^b

S.N. Monteiro ^b

• aMaterials Science and Metallurgy Department, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225, Gávea – 22453-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
• bScience and Technology Center, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, Horto – 28015-820, Campos, RJ, Brazil

Received 5 August 2004. Revised 15 March 2005. Accepted 16 March 2005. Available online 24 October 2005.

Abstract

The tensile mechanical properties of piassava fibers, as well as their chemical composition and morphological aspects, are reported. The values obtained showed that piassava has a mechanical behavior and chemical composition comparable to that of coir fibers. The difficulties related with a reliable way of measuring the true elastic modulus of these slender fibers are discussed and a simple correction of the experimental data is presented. As main characteristic surface features piassava fibers present a well arranged pattern of silicon rich star-like protrusions. Its chemical composition reveals that piassava are lignin rich fibers, 48.4 wt%. X-ray diffraction showed that cellulose I is their main crystalline constituent. Their thermal degradation begins at 225 °C, and the whole thermal degradation behavior of piassava fibers has many aspects, like the initial water loss and the content of residues, close to that shown by pure lignin.

Keywords

A. Piassava fibers

B. Mechanical properties

C. Elastic properties

D. Scanning electron microscopy

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• ⁎ 
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Characterization of banana, sugarcane bagasse and sponge gourd fibers of Brazil

Published Date
November 2009, Vol.30(3):407–415, doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2009.07.013

Author 

J.L. Guimarães ^a

E. Frollini ^b

C.G. da Silva ^b

F. Wypych ^c

K.G. Satyanarayana ^c,,

• aDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, UFPR, Curitiba, Brazil
• bSão Carlos Institute of Chemistry (IQSC), University of São Paulo, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
• cDepartment of Chemistry, UFPR, Centro Politécnico, PO Box 19081, Jardim das Américas, 81531-980 Curitiba, PR, Brazil

Received 26 May 2009. Revised 18 July 2009. Accepted 24 July 2009. Available online 22 August 2009.

Abstract

In recent times, increasing attention has been paid to the use of renewable resources particularly of plant origin keeping in view the ecological concerns, renewability and many governments passing laws for the use of such materials. On the other hand, despite abundant availability of lignocellulosic materials in Brazil, very few attempts have been made about their utilization, probably due to lack of sufficient structure/property data. Systematic studies to know their properties and morphology may bridge this gap while leading to value addition to these natural materials. Chemical composition, X-ray powder diffraction, and morphological studies and thermal behavior aspects in respect of banana, sugarcane bagasse sponge gourd fibers of Brazilian origin are presented. Chemical compositions of the three fibers are found to be different than those reported earlier. X-ray diffraction patterns of these three fibers exhibit mainly cellulose type I structure with the crystallinity indices of 39%, 48% and 50% respectively for these fibers. Morphological studies of the fibers revealed different sizes and arrangement of cells. Thermal stability of all the fibers is found to be around 200 °C. Decomposition of both cellulose and hemicelluloses in the fibers takes place at 300 °C and above, while the degradation of fibers takes place above 400 °C. These data may help finding new uses for these fibers.

Keywords

Lignocellulosic fibers

Chemical composition

Thermal behavior

Crystallinity

Morphology

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• ⁎ 
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Composite of short coir fibres and natural rubber: effect of chemical modification, loading and orientation of fibre

Published Date
1998, Vol.39(6):1483–1491, doi:10.1016/S0032-3861(97)00422-9

Polymer paper

Author 

V.G. Geethamma ^a

K. Thomas Mathew ^b

R. Lakshminarayanan ^b

Sabu Thomas ^,a

• aUniversity College of Engineering, School of Technology and Applied Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Thodupuzha P.O., Idukki, Kerala, India-685 584
• bHi-Tech Arai Ltd, B-9 Kambar Street, Tirunagar, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India-625 006

Received 22 May 1996. Revised 9 April 1997. Available online 18 June 1998.

Abstract 

Coir fibre is considered to be a poor reinforcing fibre in rubber because of its low strength and lack of physical characteristics that are essential for a reinforcing fibre. Interfacial adhesion between coir and natural rubber (NR) was improved by treatment of the coir fibres with alkali (sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate) and NR solution, and by the incorporation of HRH/RH bonding systems. Composites containing 10 mm long coir fibres were vulcanized at 150°C according to their respective cure times. Green strength measurements were carried out to measure the extent of fibre orientation. The effectiveness of green strength measurements in finding the degree of fibre orientation was also analysed. Tensile modulus, tensile strength and tear strength of the composites were analysed to investigate their performance. Anisotropic swelling studies were conducted to investigate the extent of fibre orientation and the fibre/rubber interfacial strength. Scanning electron microscopy was performed to study the fibre topology.

Keywords

composites

coir fibres

natural rubber

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