Effect of alkali and silane treatments on properties of green composites based on ramie fibers and cellulose acetate resin

Abstract

Green composites based on ramie fiber yarn and cellulose acetate resin were prepared via hot pressing. The ramie fiber yarns were treated with NaOH and 3-glycidoxypropyltriethoxysilane. The effect of surface treatment on the fiber adhesion to the resin surface and the mechanical properties of the green composites were studied. The chemical properties of the modified ramie fiber yarn were studied via Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The adhesion performance between the fiber and resin was evaluated. The tensile strength of the composites was measured through tensile testing. A single-fiber tensile experiment was used to determine the influence of the tensile strength of the single fibers after surface-treatment. The surface morphology changes were observed via scanning electron microscopy. The results showed fiber–resin adhesion was improved by the surface treatments. However, the surface treatments negatively affected the single-fiber mechanical properties, with the alkali treatment causing greater damage than the silane treatment.