Indentation behavior of cellulosic fibers/fly ash-incorporated polymer composites at sub-micron scale.

Chemically treated short cellulosic fibers (jute and sisal) reinforced heat-treated silanized fly ash-dispersed hybrid polymer composites were synthesized by a compression molding technique. The 35 wt.% filler loading unsaturated polyester matrix-based composites were fabricated. The mechanical behavior of the unsaturated polyester matrix and unsaturated polyester-based composites was successfully assessed at the sub-micron length scale using the nanoindentation or depth-sensing instrumented indentation technique. It was observed that along with filler addition, the mechanical properties at the sub-micron scale improved significantly. A successful attempt to investigate the effect of filler inclusion within the unsaturated polyester matrix through various nanoindentation-derived parameters, namely, nanohardness, reduced modulus, elastic recovery, residual depth, wear rate as well the dynamic mechanical properties was also executed in the current investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]