Manihot esculenta tuber microcrystalline cellulose and woven bamboo fiber-reinforced unsaturated polyester composites: mechanical, hydrophobic and wear behavior

Abstract

In this research Manihot esculenta (cassava) tuber stem microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and woven bamboo fiber (WBF) reinforced unsaturated polyester (UP) composites are prepared and tested. The main aim of this study was to synthesis the microcrystalline cellulose from Manihot esculenta tuber stem and investigate the mechanical, wear and hydrophobic properties of UP resin composite made using MCC and WBF. The laminated composites were prepared by the hand layup method and characterized according to ASTM standards. According to the results, the composite containing 40 vol. % of WBF increased the tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength and modulus, interlaminar shear strength, Izod impact as well as hardness by 39%, 10%, 42%, 27%, 1%, 91%, and 1%, respectively as compare to pure polyester resin composites. In comparison to all composites, the composite with 4 vol. % of MCC exhibits the lowest sp. wear rate of 0.011 mm3/Nm. The water absorption contact angle indicated that all composite designations had a wider contact angle of more than 70°, which indicates a stronger hydrophobicity of composites. The SEM fractography reveals improved bonding and toughness for 4 vol.% of MCC and WBF reinforced UP composites. Such mechanically stronger, wear resistance, as well as high hydrophobic composites, could be used in aerospace, automobile, defence and industrial sector.

Effect of chemical treatment on physico-chemical properties of a novel extracted cellulosic Cryptostegia grandiflora fiber ∗

“…There are many natural fibers extracted from different parts of plants and transformed into low-density polymer composites for various applications [14][15][16][17][18]. Most importantly, the performance of the composites is based on the functional properties of the reinforcement element, interfacial bonding between fiber and polymer, and the type of polymer matrix used for the composite fabrication.…”