Effect of Alkaline Treatment to Wettability and Flexural Properties of Kenaf Nonwoven Fibre Mat Reinforced Epoxy Composites Produced by Resin Transfer Moulding

Abstract:

This paper focuses on the study of the effect of chemical treatments of fibres by alkalization on the flexural and impact properties of epoxy matrix composites reinforced by kenaf fibre (KF) produced via resin transfer moulding (RTM) technique. The reinforcement consists of KF nonwoven fiber mat fabricated using needle punching method. Prior to punching process, KF are subjected to alkali treatments with Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at 3, 6 and 9% for a period of 3h at room temperature. The composites were reinforced with kenaf nonwoven mat at 40% by volume. Effect of alkaline treatment concentration to wettability of KF towards epoxy resins are measured by means of contact angle and surface energy analysis. Influences of alkaline treatment on the flexural properties are studied to determine the optimum conditions of alkaline treatment. As concentration of NaOH in alkaline treatment increased, the experimental results show that the flexural properties of composites increases. For 6% NaOH treatment, the flexural strength and flexural modulus improved by 7.88 MPa to 81.38 Mpa and from 4.79 GPa to 5.41GPa compared to untreated fibre composites. However, as the concentration of NaOH increase to 9%, the bending properties reduced significantly.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 754-755)
• Pages: 99-105
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.754-755.99
• Online since: April 2015
• Authors: Muhamad Saifuddin Salim*, Z.A. Mohd Ishak, Dody Ariawan, Mohd Zharif Ahmad Thirmizir
• Keywords: Alkali Treatment, Flexural Properties, Kenaf Nonwoven Mat, Wettability

References

[1] W. Liu, et al., Effects of alkali treatment on the structure, morphology and thermal properties of native grass fibers as reinforcements for polymer matrix composites, Journal of Materials Science, vol. 39, pp.1051-1054, (2004).

DOI: 10.1023/b:jmsc.0000012942.83614.75

[2] A. M. M. Edeerozey, et al., Chemical modification of kenaf fibers, Materials Letters, vol. 61, pp.2023-2025, (2007).

DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2006.08.006

[3] M. S. Salim, et al., Effect of Stitching Density of Nonwoven Fiber Mat towards Mechanical Properties of Kenaf Reinforced Epoxy Composites Produced by Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM), Key Engineering Materials, vol. Composite Science and Technology, pp.987-992, (2011).

DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.471-472.987

[4] D. Li and A. W. Neumann, Equation of state for interfacial tensions of solid-liquid systems, Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, vol. 39, pp.299-345, (1992).

DOI: 10.1016/0001-8686(92)80064-5

[5] M. M. Mohanty, et al., Eds., An Introduction, in Natural Fibers, Biopolymers, and Biocomposites (Natural Fibers, Biopolymers and Biocomposites. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, 2005).

DOI: 10.1201/9780203508206.ch1

[6] L. Y. Mwaikambo and M. P. Ansell, Chemical modification of hemp, sisal, jute, and kapok fibers by alkalization, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, vol. 84, pp.2222-2234, (2002).

DOI: 10.1002/app.10460

[7] A. Valadez-Gonzalez, et al., Effect of fiber surface treatment on the fiber–matrix bond strength of natural fiber reinforced composites, Composites Part B: Engineering, vol. 30, pp.309-320, (1999).

DOI: 10.1016/s1359-8368(98)00054-7

[8] M. Rokbi, et al., Effect of Chemical treatment on Flexure Properties of Natural Fiber-reinforced Polyester Composite, Procedia Engineering, vol. 10, pp.2092-2097, (2011).

DOI: 10.1016/j.proeng.2011.04.346