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Alkali-treated sisal fibre-incorporated silanized ZrO2 dispersed unsaturated polyester composites were fabricated with a filler loading of 5, 15, 25, 35, 45 wt%, respectively. The mechanical characterization of the composites was suitably executed at the sub-micron scale using the nanoindentation technique. Various mechanical properties were derived from the standard nanoindentation measurements namely, nanohardness, reduced modulus, recovery index, residual depth, wear rate and indentation creep, respectively. A marked improvement in the mechanical properties of the unsaturated polyester matrix due to the incorporation of the fillers (sisal and/or ZrO2) was observed through indentation-derived parameters namely, nanohardness (∼186%), reduced modulus (∼175%), recovery index (∼62%), wear rate (∼63%) and indentation creep (∼33%), respectively. A simulated dynamic mechanical analysis was performed using the sinus mode of the nanoindentation technique. A similar enhancement in the dynamic mechanical properties of the matrix was further observed through dynamic mechanical analysis as storage modulus (∼71%), loss modulus (∼60%), loss factor (∼150%) and specific damping coefficient (∼200%), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sisal fiber along with ZrO2 particles dispersed unsaturated polyester (UP) composites were fabricated by compression molding technique. The filler contents were varied from 5 to 45 wt% with a gradual increase of 10%. The structural investigation was done using Scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Mechanical testing was performed through microhardness tester, tensile, flexural, and Izod impact test. The optimum mechanical properties were obtained at 35 wt% of filler incorporation within UP matrix followed by a slight deterioration at 45 wt%. Fractographic images of the composites display the phenomena of fiber pull‐out, debonding and breakage. The water absorption test was performed both at room temperature and boiling water temperature conditions. The thermal insulation measurement was performed by Kawabata method. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:2790–2801, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]