Experimental characterization of surface modified Palmyra Palm Leaf Stalk Fiber (PPLSF) /polymer composites– Mechanical, Crystallinity and Acoustic properties

Abstract

In this work chemically treated Palmyra Palm Leaf Stalk Fiber (PPLSF) reinforced polymer composites are evaluated for their mechanical properties (Tensile, Flexural, and Impact) before and after Moisture absorption, crystallinity, and acoustic properties for their possible usage in engineering applications. Alkali and silane treated PPLSF are used as reinforcements in the polyester matrix for fabrication of composite samples. The composite specimens were soaked in three types of water (drinking water, well water and sea water) for a period of 3 days and tests on the specimens were conducted after each day of immersion at different time intervals. It was observed that there was less moisture abortion was less in silane treated composites. Mechanical and acoustic tests showed that the properties of silane treated fiber composites were higher compared to all the other composites. Moisture penetration was higher in the composites exposed to sea water in comparison to others. The changes in the crystallinity index of the composites were identified through X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) technique. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images of the tensile fractured specimens were used to understand the mechanism of failure of the composites before and after moisture absorption. Properties of the composites from the literature were compared with those of the proposed composite.

Keywords

• palmyra palm leaf stalk fiber
• moisture absorption
• mechanical properties
• acoustic properties
• cyrstallinity