Mechanical properties of potassium hydroxide-pretreated Christmas palm fiber-reinforced polyester composites: characterization study, modeling and optimization

Abstract

Abstract The mechanical properties of Christmas palm-reinforced polyester composite were improved by chemical modification of Christmas palm fibers through alkali treatment. An attempt was made in this investigation to identify the possibility of using potassium hydroxide as alkali solution. The fibers treated with potassium hydroxide aqueous solution at varying solution concentrations and soaking times were reinforced in a polyester matrix and tested for their mechanical properties. The physicochemical interaction between the treated Christmas palm fiber and polyester matrix was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The surface modification of fibers improved the compatibility of fibers with polyester matrix, which, in turn, resulted in better mechanical properties. A nonlinear regression model was developed to predict the mechanical properties of the composites using response surface methodology. The better treatment conditions for optimum mechanical properties were determined using a heuristic optimization method called particle swarm optimization (PSO). The optimized value obtained using the PSO technique was validated through a confirmation test, and the result was found to be significant.