Influences of Surface Modification of Vetiver Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites

Haydar Zaman; Ruhul A. Khan

Abstract

Plant-drive vetiver fiber (VF), a significant lignocellulosic fiber, can be included in polymers like polypropylene (PP) in dissimilar ways for attaining preferred features and structure. But its high levels of moisture absorption, poor wettability and inadequate adherence between the fiber and polymer matrix result in debonding with age. To develop the overhead attributes,adequate surface modifications are essential. In our current work, the VF surface was modified by mercerized treatment (MVF), and mercerized pre-treated VF was modified with two types of silane coupling agents like 3-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane (AS) and tetramethoxy orthosilicate (TS) to improve the physicomechanical performance of PP/VF composite. Physicomechanical properties like tensile and impact properties, and waterabsorption of the composites as a function of VF and VF surface modification have been assessed. In the current research, PP/VF composites were manufactured by compression molding using stacking method with and without silane coupling agents. The basic properties (tensile, impact and water absorption) of PP/VF composites have improved with growing VFconcentration. The effect of mercerization on the basic properties of PP/VF composites were considerably greater than those of untreated (control) composites. The incorporation of silanes after mercerization for VF composites increases all mechanical properties and consequently the water absorption of the composites. This propensity was even morenoticeable with the rise in VF content. The surface morphology, and thermal characteristics of untreated and chemically modified VF reinforced composites have been studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Physical tests revealed that untreated composites exhibited the highest water absorption although the quality of water absorption decreasedafter treatment.