Environmentally valuable composites would be made by replacing synthetic fibers with various types of natural cellulose fibers. The most significant factor in finding good fiber reinforcement in the composite is the strength of the bond between matrix polymer and fiber. Due to the presence of hydroxide and other polar groups in various constituents of natural fiber, the moisture absorption is high which leads to poor wettability and weak interfacial bonding between fibers and the more hydrophobic matrices. Therefore, it is necessary to impart hydrophobic nature to the natural fibers by suitable chemical treatments in order to develop composites with better mechanical properties. In the present work, the effect of esterification on moisture absorption of single abaca fiber has been investigated. It was observed that the esterification process drastically reduced the moisture uptake of fibers. Acrylic acid treated abaca fiber showed about 32.87, 32.53, 50.76 and 39.01% lower moisture absorption than untreated fiber in pond water, river water, borewell water and sea water respectively.

Environmentally beneficial composites can be made by replacing synthetic fibers with various types of cellulosic fibers. Fibers from pine wood, coir, sisal, abaca, coir, etc. are all good candidates. The most important factor in finding good fiber reinforcement in the composites is the strength of adhesion between matrix polymer and fiber. Due to the presence of hydroxyl groups and other polar groups in various constituents of abaca, the moisture absorption is high, which leads to poor wettability and weak interfacial bonding between fibers and the more hydrophobic matrices. Therefore, it is necessary to impart a hydrophobic nature to the fibers by suitable chemical treatments in order to develop composites with better mechanical properties. In the present work, the effect of alkali treatment on the moisture absorption tendency of single abaca fiber was investigated. The results shown that the alkali treated fiber absorbs less moisture than the untreated raw fiber.

Abaca fibers were subjected to different chemical treatments like alkali treatment, permanganate treatment, acrylation & benzene diazonium chloride treatment and these chemically treated fibers were used as reinforcements in the preparation of polypropylene composites by hot compression moulding method. Various composites were fabricated with different fiber loadings of 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, and 70%. Abaca composites with 40% fiber loadings were found to have optimum properties when tensile tests were carried out and the study also revealed that treated composites were found to have improved tensile properties when compared to untreated composites. Among all the treatments carried out benzene diazonium chloride treated abaca fiber reinforced polypropylene composites showed higher tensile strength. These composites showed 82.38% increase in tensile strength when compared to untreated composites for 40% fiber loading.

Environmentally beneficial composites can be made by replacing synthetic fibers with various types of cellulose fibers. The most important factor in finding good fiber reinforcement in the composite is the strength of adhesion between matrix polymer and fiber. Due to the presence of hydroxide and other polar groups in various constituents of natural fiber, the moisture absorption is high which leads to poor wettability and weak interfacial bonding between fibers and the more hydrophobic matrices. Therefore, it is necessary to impart hydrophobic nature to the natural fibers by suitable chemical treatments in order to develop composites with better mechanical properties. In the present work, the effect of esterification on the moisture absorption property of single areca fiber has been investigated.