Preparation and characterization of short date palm mat (DPM) fiber reinforced polystyrene composites: Effect of gamma radiation

The utilization of natural fiber reinforced polymer composites is growing fast in numerous sectors. In this study, the effect of the addition of short date palm mat (DPM) fibers in polystyrene matrix on the physico-mechanical and thermal properties were studied. Short DPM fiber reinforced polystyrene composites were produced by compression moulding process and the fiber content was 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 wt%. Physico-mechanical and thermal properties were examined. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis of the composites were also done. The findings from the investigates exposed that the composites with 10 % fiber content showed improved mechanical and thermal characteristics as compared to other composites. The morphological analysis also supported the results where good interfacial bonding among fiber and polystyrene matrix was found for the composites with 10 % fiber content. The optimized (10 % fiber content) composites were exposed to gamma radiation (2.5-7.5 kGy) and the best result was found at 5.0 kGy radiation dose. Degradation of gamma irradiated composites was conducted in four different media such as water, acid, base, and brine.

Epoxy–Date Palm Fiber Composites: Study on Manufacturing and Properties

Epoxy-date palm fiber (DPF) composites have been synthesized and characterized successfully with various reinforced ratios of DPF (i.e., 5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%), where the mixture of Epoxy–DPF is poured into different prepared silicone molds. The first type of silicon molds is prepared to produce the samples of the Epoxy–DPF composites to conduct mechanical tests (i.e., impact, creep, and tensile). When the ratio of DPF is increased in the Epoxy matrix, a significant improvement was observed in the results of the mechanical tests. The Epoxy–DPF composites with 15 wt% exhibit a high hardness of 38.4 in comparison with other composite specimens. Maximum impact strength, creep strain, and tensile strengths were recorded to be 0.13 J/mm2, 0.03112, and 23.4 N/mm2, respectively, using 20 wt% DPF.

Water Absorption Behavior of Teff (Eragrostis tef) Straw Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Composite: RSM-Based Statistical Modeling and Kinetic Analysis

Recently, reinforced polymeric composites prepared from natural fibers have received a significant interest among the researchers because of its appreciable sustainability, environmentally friendly, and low cost. However, one particular issue, that is, hydrophilic property, still needs to be addressed for its successful applications. Since the hydrophilic tendency of natural fibers is extremely undesirable, it leads to the quick degradation of fiber-based polymer composites. Hence, the fiber property, hydrophilic nature, is influenced by the presence of noncrystalline and voids part of these fibers that significantly influences the polymer matrix adhesion. Hence, it is very important to understand the water absorption behavior of reinforced fiber composites. In this study, a crop residual material specific to Ethiopia, teff straw (Eragrostis tef), was used as fiber material. The fiber was treated with 1% NaOH followed by 1% CH2=CHCOOH at room temperature for improving the bonding strength between the fiber and polymer, which leads to suppress the water absorption. The investigation on mathematical model for water absorption property at different fiber loadings (4%, 8%, 12%, 16, and 20%) was carried out, and the analysis on the kinetic behavior of water absorption was also investigated. In addition, the response surface-based statistical modeling which correlates water absorption, fiber loading, and time has been analyzed.

Surface properties of alkylsilane treated date palm fiber

The present work focuses on investigating the effect of non-fluoro short-chain alkylsilane treatment on the surface characteristic of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) fiber. Raw date palm fiber (DPF) was treated with octylsilane and the surface properties of treated fiber was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD) on configuring the thermal stability, chemical structures and surface properties (morphology, hydrophobicity and crystallinity). The decomposition temperature of 75% mass loss raw and treated DPF, the onset of temperatures were increased from 464 to 560 °C with the introduction of alkylsilane. Hydrophobicity and crystallinity index of the DPF fibers were increased from 66.8° to 116° and 31 to 41, introducing octylsilane to raw DPF. The SEM and XRD experimental results showed that the octylsilane treatment could effectively increase the pore size and crystallinity index as an indication of the removal of non-crystalline cellulosic materials from DPFs. Thermal stability, hydrophobicity and crystallinity of the fibers increased on DFP after alkylsilane treatment. The results indicated that alkylsilane-treated DPFs were a suitable reinforcing substitute for hydrophobic polymer composite.