Static and dynamic behavior of micrometric agro Prunus amygdalus particulate distributed interpolymer layer-kenaf composite

Abstract

Natural fibers and fillers are playing a predominant role in enlightening the damping and mechanical properties of polymer material. The hybrid kenaf polymer composite was prepared using compression molding technique with the micrometric sized Prunus amygdalus fillers of 0, 5, 10, and 15 vol%, evenly distributed in the vinyl ester polymer interlayers. This work deals with the effect of variation in P. amygdalus content and the effect of chemical treatments like silane and alkaline treatment on the dynamic characteristics of fabricated composites. The kenaf woven fabric and P. amygdalus fillers were chemically treated using tri vinyl ethoxy silane and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution to modify their surface characteristics. The effect of chemical treatment on the kenaf fiber and P. amygdalus filler was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. From experiments, it is observed that chemical treatment removes the strength reducing substances like lignin, hemicellulose and wax from the kenaf fiber and P. amygdalus filler surfaces. The addition of filler and chemical treatment increase the tensile strength to 56 MPa and flexural strength to 89 MPa. Silane-treatedP. amygdalus filler with 10% composite, reveals higher storage modulus of 4.71 GPa than the alkaline and untreated composites in all tested frequencies. This may be due to enhanced tensile modulus and better interfacial bonding between P. amygdalus filler and vinyl ester matrix. Fractography was studied using micrographs of the scanning electron microscope. The result shows the predominance of brittle mode of failure in all types of fabricated composites. This kind of industrial agro waste hybrid composite can be considered as an effective damping material.