Innovative Banana Fiber Nonwoven Reinforced Polymer Composites: Pre- and Post-Treatment Effects on Physical and Mechanical Properties

K Z M Abdul Motaleb,Ginta Laureckiene,Rimvydas Milasius,Abdul Ahad

doi:10.3390/polym13213744

K Z M Abdul Motaleb, Ginta Laureckiene + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13213744

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Abstract

Four types of nonwovens were prepared from different sections of the banana tree e.g., outer bark (OB), middle bark (MB), inner bark (IB) and midrib of leaf (MR) by wet laid web formation. They were reinforced with two different types of matrices e.g., epoxy and polyester, to make eight variants of composites. Treatments including alkali on raw fibers, water repellent on nonwovens and gamma radiation on composites were applied in order to investigate their effects on properties of the composites such as water absorbency, tensile strength (TS), flexural strength (FS) and elongation at break (Eb%). Variations in the morphological structure and chemical composition of both raw banana fibers and fibers reinforced by the treatments were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). OB composites exhibited higher water absorbency, TS and FS and lower Eb% compared to other types of composites. Epoxy composites were found to have 16% lower water absorbency, 41.2% higher TS and 39.1% higher FS than polyester composites on an average. Water absorbency of the composites was reduced 32% by the alkali treatment and a further 63% by water repellent treatment. TS and FS of the composites were on average improved 71% and 87% by alkali treatment and a further 30% and 35% by gamma radiation respectively.

Highlights

Accepted: 27 October 2021Throughout the last century, traditional materials like wood, metal, ceramics, and glass have been rapidly replaced by polymer matrix composite (PMC) materials with reinforced synthetic fibers thanks to their many advantages, which include light weight, easy processing, low cost, and high productivity
The current study reveals the development of innovative natural composite materials by reinforcing different banana fiber nonwovens, developed by a special manual technique of wet laid web formation
The hydrophobicity and mechanical properties of the composites were improved significantly by alkali treatment, due to the better fiber-matrix adhesion which is achieved through this treatment by removing unwanted materials from the fibers

Summary

Introduction

Throughout the last century, traditional materials like wood, metal, ceramics, and glass have been rapidly replaced by polymer matrix composite (PMC) materials with reinforced synthetic fibers thanks to their many advantages, which include light weight, easy processing, low cost, and high productivity. PMC has created dangerous and alarming problems such as environmental pollution from plastics, burning of fossil fuels, increased global warming potential, and more, which can create a harmful and unsafe environment for humans, animals, and marine life [1] For these reasons, researchers are paying attention to alternative eco-sustainable, renewable, and degradable materials [2]. Most of the natural fibers investigated as reinforcement to date have been from agricultural plant byproducts

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