The effect of environmental treatments on fiber surface properties and tensile strength of sugar palm fiber-reinforced epoxy composites

Leman, Zulkiflle and Sapuan, Salit Mohd and Azwan, M. and Ahmad, Megat Mohamad Hamdan Megat and Maleque, Md. Abdul (2008) The effect of environmental treatments on fiber surface properties and tensile strength of sugar palm fiber-reinforced epoxy composites. Polymer - Plastics Technology and Engineering, 47 (6). pp. 606-612. ISSN 0360-2559

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Abstract

Fiber glass has been used widely in manufacturing industries, especially marine industries, because of low cost and high strength. However, glass fiber can cause acute irritation to the skin, eyes, and upper respiratory tract. This study looked at the possibility of substituting glass fiber with natural fiber in composite materials. The surface properties of sugar palm fiber (Arenga pinnata) were modified using seawater and freshwater as treatment substances. This led to biological, chemical, and water degradation of the sugar palm fiber. Morphological and structural changes in the fibers were investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). A series of tensile tests based on ASTM D638-99 was carried out on epoxy composites with 15% sugar palm fiber by volume. It was found that seawater and freshwater treatments improved the surface properties of the sugar palm fiber and thus resulted in better adhesion quality as compared to untreated fiber. An improvement in tensile strength also supported this finding. Treatment with seawater for 30 days proved to be the best, with 67.26% increase in tensile strength.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	6103/29576
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Arenga pinnata fiber; Epoxy composite; Sugar palm fiber; Surface treatment
Subjects:	T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) > TA170 Environmental engineering. Sustainable engineering T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) > TA401 Materials of engineering and construction T Technology > TP Chemical technology > TP1080 Polymers, plastics and their manufacture
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Engineering > Department of Manufacturing and Materials Engineering
Depositing User:	Prof Dr. Md Abdul Maleque
Date Deposited:	24 Jul 2013 15:10
Last Modified:	24 Jul 2013 15:10
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/29576

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