Micro-Mechanics Mercerization Analysis On The Tensile Strength And Inter Phase Quality Of Stipa Stem Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composite Materials

• Author(s): K. E. Madu ; E. I. Nwankwo ; G. O. Okoronkwo ; J. I. Onyewudiala
• Paper ID: 1701736
• Page: 73-88
• Published Date: 14-11-2019
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 3 Issue 5 November-2019

Abstract

The Production of greener composite materials by substituting glass fibers with naturalfibers is a current field of research. If such natural fiber reinforcements come from agro-industrial side streams, as stipa stem fibers (SSFs) come from the extraction of stipa strands for the textile industry, an additional advantage can be identified. Nonetheless, such by-product fibers show some drawbacks, such as high lignin contents, which can make it difficult to obtain a good interphase between the fibers and the matrix and to obtain good fiber individualization. A digestion treatment at different NaOH contents is proposed to eliminate soluble lignin and extractives from the surface of the fibers. At the same time, the use of a coupling agent solves incompatibilities between the fibers and the matrix. The composites were tensile tested and the impact of the proposed treatments was evaluated and discussed. Later, the Kelly-Tyson modified equation and a modified rule of mixtures?the micro-mechanic models?were used to study the impact of such treatments on the quality of the interphase between the polymer and the reinforcement. Both treatments showed a high impact on the tensile strength and the quality of the interphase, obtaining competitive composite materials reinforced with SSFs derived from a by-product

Keywords

Stipa Fiber, Polypropylene, Tensile Strength, Bio-Composites, Micro - Mechanics, Mercerization, Interphase

Citations

IRE Journals:
K. E. Madu , E. I. Nwankwo , G. O. Okoronkwo , J. I. Onyewudiala "Micro-Mechanics Mercerization Analysis On The Tensile Strength And Inter Phase Quality Of Stipa Stem Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composite Materials" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 3 Issue 5 2019 Page 73-88

IEEE:
K. E. Madu , E. I. Nwankwo , G. O. Okoronkwo , J. I. Onyewudiala "Micro-Mechanics Mercerization Analysis On The Tensile Strength And Inter Phase Quality Of Stipa Stem Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composite Materials" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 3(5)