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Journal of Thin Films, Coating Science Technology & Application Research Article

The Influence of Surface Modification on the Core Characteristics of Photografted Coir Fibers

  1. Haydar U. Zaman ✉ Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, National University College of Bangladesh and Institute of Radiation and Polymer Technology, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box-3787, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh

This is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.

Abstract

Polymer mixtures strengthened with natural fibers can exhibit markedly different mechanical properties and resistance to environmental degradation depending on how their interfacial layers are arranged. Coir, an important plant-derived fiber, can be incorporated into substances such as polyacrylate through several methods to achieve desired properties and textures. However, its high-water absorption tendency, inadequate surface adhesion, and poor interaction between the untreated fiber and the polymer matrix lead to separation over time. To improve these characteristics, appropriate surface modification is essential. Nevertheless, the hydroxyl groups found in cellulose and lignin make coir fiber inherently hydrophilic. Sufficient surface modification is required to enhance the aforementioned properties. The fibers were treated with different types of acrylate monomers at varying concentrations in methanol and subsequently cured under UV radiation. Darocur-1173 was added as a photoinitiator and activated light-induced polymerization. Monomer concentration and irradiation dosage were optimized in terms of grafting efficiency and tensile properties. Urea was incorporated into the optimal formulation and significantly improved the elongation characteristics. The ability of the acrylate monomer treatment to remove contaminants from the fiber surfaces was confirmed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. Based on the SEM morphological examination of modified coir fibers, fibers treated with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate monomer showed fewer impurities, with less lignin and hemicellulose removed than those subjected to other chemical treatments. The moisture absorption behavior of the modified sample exhibited a substantially lower level compared with the untreated sample. Artificial aging tests indicated that the tensile properties of the modified sample could become inferior to those of the untreated sample in terms of their degradation period. This demonstrates the significant improvement achieved in coir fibers through the application of a straightforward, fast, and environmentally friendly photo-grafting method. Therefore, it offers considerable potential for industrial applications, including the production of brushes, floor mats, heavy-duty ropes, coarse nets, and similar products.

Keywords

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