Thermal morphological and mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester natural fiber biocomposites and nanobiocomposites

Abstract

Natural fibres like flax, hemp, jute, sisal, kenaf, coir, agave newlineamericana, pine apple, sun hemp, banana etc. have recently gained popularity newlineas an alternative reinforcement for Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) newlinecomposites among researchers and engineers. They are used as a replacement newlinefor glass fibers, due to their low cost, relatively good mechanical properties, newlinenon-abrasive, eco-friendly and bio-degradability. Several chemical newlinemodifications are used to improve the interfacial bonding between the matrix newlineand natural fiber, which improves the properties of the composites. Natural newlinefiber reinforced unsaturated polyester composites have replaced the glass newlinefiber reinforced composites in many of the above applications. However, fully newlinereplacing green bio-composites presents numerous challenges. A gap in the way newlinebio-composites are evaluated in relation to comprehensive desired criteria for newlinevarious industrial applications has been revealed. In order to achieve good newlinepart design with bio-composites, processing considerations and proper newlineselection of the composite constituents and their properties should be newlinethoroughly investigated. newlineNanocomposites are environmentally friendly, their applications newlineprovide new technology and business opportunities for a variety of industries, newlineincluding automotive, electronics, and biotechnology. Nanoparticles are also newlinegaining popularity due to their potential to improve the functionality and newlinemechanical properties of biocomposites. newlineIn the present work AgNPsatPVA was prepared and newlinenanobiocomposites were made using unsaturated polyester resin, woven kenaf newlinefiber (treated with NaOH, formic acid, acetic anhydride, hydrogen peroxide newlineand KMnO4) and 2% AgNPsatPVA. In FT-IR spectrum the band at 1736 cm-1 newlineiv newlinedue to lignin disappeared completely for the fiber treated with 5% NaOH. The newlineintensity of the above band was found to decrease in the order of newlineKMnO4gtH2O2gtAc2OgtUntreatedgtHCOOHgtNaOH treated fibers newline