Studies on woven century fiber polyester composites

Abstract

Treated and untreated woven century fiber (CF) composites are investigated for evaluating their flexural, tensile, and impact strengths, Barcol hardness, glass transition temperature, thermal resistance, and water absorption properties. Scanning electron microscopy study revealed a brittle fracture for treated fiber composite, while significant fiber pull-out is observed for the untreated fiber composite. Higher tensile and hardness properties, higher glass transition and thermal decomposition temperatures, and low water absorption properties are obtained for alkaline-treated composites. Enhanced interface bonding due to improved adhesion has helped in the formation of covalent bonds at the fiber–matrix interface, resulting in superior tensile, thermal, and water absorption properties of the treated fiber composite. Flexural and impact properties are higher for untreated fiber composite. This is due to the weak fiber–matrix interface and a differential strain in fiber and matrix. The weak interface has provided an energy absorbing mechanism and enhanced the impact energy absorption capacity. The tensile strength of CF composite is very much comparable with that of sisal fiber composite. The tensile and flexural properties are higher for the woven CF composites than those of short CF composites. But the impact properties are superior for short fiber composites compared to the woven fiber composites. Increased number of interfaces for the short fiber composites has contributed for the cushioning effect and an enhanced energy absorbing mechanism. Water absorption properties have improved for the treated fiber composites due to formation of a strong interface.