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The demand of natural fiber reinforced composites has grown enormously in polymer industries owing to their renewability and sustainability and maintaining their performance and properties. In this investigation, two natural fibers have been considered as a reinforcer to develop chemically functionalized high-density polyethylene (CF-HDPE)-based composites. The total holocellulose content of ~85% and ~65% for nettle fiber (NTF) and oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber (OPF) make them significant for this study. OPF/CF-HDPE and NTF/CF-HDPE composites have been developed and characterized to measure their desirable properties. The structural confirmation suggests reinforcement/matrix adhesion through ester and hydrogen bonds between them. NTF/CF-HDPE and OPF/CF-HDPE are thermally stable upto 240[degrees]C and 250[degrees]C, respectively. A significant increment of ~40% and ~64% in tensile strength were observed in addition of OPF and NTF reinforcer in pristine matrix. A similar observation has been shown in flexural strength with improvement of ~58% and ~83% with OPF and NTF as reinforcer. Among all these composite compositions, the 30/70 NTF/CF-HDPE composite demonstrated the highest tensile and flexural properties values due to higher holocellulose of NTF. This study demonstrates the potential of OPF and NTF reinforcer to develop natural fiber reinforced polymer composites, which helps respective industries to manufactured tailored made products with desirable properties. Highlights * OPF/CF-HDPE and NTF/CF-HDPE composites are sustainable and low cost. * The composite compositions have been developed by extrusion and injection molding. * The composite's mechanical (tensile and flexural) properties have been demonstrated. * SEM and FTIR characterized the composites for the fiber/matrix adhesion. * The composite's thermal stability has been affected by fibers and matrix. KEYWORDS composites, fiber-matrix interaction, performance properties, thermal properties, 1 | INTRODUCTION The deployment of natural fibers, instead of inorganic or synthetic fibers, as reinforcements has been grown rapidly to develop polymer composites in the last few decades. This [...]

Coir fiber (COIRF) reinforced glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) functionalized ethylene butyl acrylate (CF‐EBA) composites (COIRF/CF‐EBA) were processed by extrusion and injection molding. A good COIRF/CF‐EBA interfacial adhesion was indicated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE‐SEM). Fourier Transform Infra‐Red (FTIR) spectroscopy established this adhesion emerging from etherification and hydrogen bonding between the functional groups of CF‐EBA and of COIRF. The composites exhibited higher tensile properties than pristine CF‐EBA, and also exhibited increase in their tensile properties with increase in COIRF contents in them. The storage modulus and loss modulus of the composites also increased as the amount of COIRF in them increased, but the values of these properties decreased with increasing temperature. Thermal stability of the composites was observed to be intermediate between that of COIRF and CF‐EBA. Highlights: Coir Fiber/Chemically Functionalized Ethylene Butylene Acrylate Composites.CF‐EBA/COIRF bonding by etherification and hydrogen bonding between them.The COIRF/CF‐EBA composites show higher properties than their CF‐EBA matrix.30/70 COIRF/CF‐EBA composite showed the highest tensile strength (10.93 MPa).COIRF/CF‐EBA composite show thermal stability upto approx. 245°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops bagasse fiber (BGSEF) reinforced chemically functionalized polystyrene (CF-PS) composites (BGSEF/CF-PS) using CF-PS as a matrix, that has higher amount of functionality and requires processing upto 210°C. BGSEF/CF-PS have been processed by extrusion and injection moulding, retaining the stability of the thermally sensitive BGSEF. Relative to the CF-PS, all the BGSEF/CF-PS composite compositions show higher tensile and flexural properties, that increase with increasingly higher amounts of BGSEF in them. Relative to the CF-PS, the 10/90, 20/80 and 30/70 BGSEF/CF-PS composites show approx. 9.5%, 45% and 63% higher tensile strength, approx. 19%, 31% and 45% higher tensile modulus and approx. 20.5%, 22%, and 23% lower tensile elongation at break respectively, and show approx. 5%, 10%, and 16% higher flexural strength respectively, and approx. 6.5%, 16%, and 24% higher flexural modulus respectively. Upon water absorption saturation, the tensile and flexural properties of the wet composites decrease, relative to the dry composites. Adhesion between BGSEF and CF-PS in the composites, results from ester bonds and hydrogen bonds. The composites are thermally stable upto 290°C. These BGSEF/CF-PS composites by Palsule process show better performance than the BGSEF/PS composites by fiber treatment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of no reports on natural fiber reinforced functionalized styrene acrylonitrile composites, this study develops kenaf fiber (KNF) reinforced chemically functionalized styrene acrylonitrile (CF-SAN) composites (KNF/CF-SAN) by extrusion and injection molding. The selected CF-SAN matrix is a chemically functionalized random ter-polymer, with high (10 ± 2%) maleic anhydride functionality and requires higher processing temperature. With respect to CF-SAN, the 10/90, 20/80 and 30/70 KNF/CF-SAN composites show 25%, 46% and 75% higher tensile modulus, 23%, 55% and 78% higher tensile strength, 34%, 66% and 104% higher flexural modulus and 48%, 87% and 125% higher flexural strength. Relative to the dry matrix, the water absorbed composites show higher properties, but relative to the respective dry composites, the water absorbed composites have at least 7% lower tensile strength and at least 20% lower tensile modulus, flexural modulus and flexural strength. SEM and FTIR (ATR-IR) establish that hydrogen bonding and esterification by Palsule process impart CF-SAN/KNF adhesion and bonding in the composites. The composites show thermal stability between KNF reinforcement and CF-SAN matrix upto 295°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo fibers (BBF) and reinforced chemically functionalized acrylonitrilebutadiene-styrene (CF-ABS) composites (BBF/CF-ABS) have been processed up to 190ºC, extending Palsule process to higher processing temperatures. The composites show higher tensile and flexural properties than CF-ABS. BBF act as stress concentrators, reduce deformation and thus impact strength of the composites relative to the matrix. Esterification reaction and hydrogen bonds are formed between BBF and CF-ABS at higher processing temperatures also, and these bonds impart adhesion between them in the composites. Thermal stability of the BBF/CF-ABS composites is between those of BBF and CF-ABS, and their degradation starts above 270ºC. The composites show better mechanical properties than the same composite by the fiber treatment, the compatibilizer and their combined processes. SUMMARY ● Palsule process has been used for composites requiring lower processing temperatures only. ● The process is extended to higher processing temperatures for bamboo fibers/CF-ABS composites. ● This study establishes fiber/matrix adhesion by the process at higher processing temperatures. ● The composites show higher mechanical properties except impact strength than CF-ABS. ● Shows advantages of Palsule process over fiber treatment and compatibilizer processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Eco-friendly Bagasse Fiber Reinforced Functionalized Styrene Ethylene Butylene Styrene (BGF/CF-SEBS) composites have been developed by Palsule process by twin screw extrusion and injection molding. The composites show higher mechanical properties relative to the matrix that increases with increasing fiber contents in them. FE-SEM micrographs show good interfacial adhesion between reinforcing BGF and CF-SEBS matrix in the composites and FTIR confirms its origin from the ester and hydrogen bonds formed between –OH of BGF and anhydride of CF-SEBS in the composites. Thermal stability of the composites is intermediate between those of BGF and CF-SEBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]