Preparation and Mechanical Characterizations of Water Hyacinth Fiber Based Thermoset Epoxy Composite

ABSTRACT

Composites of water hyacinth fiber thermoset epoxy (WHE) composites were developed and characterized. Water hyacinth (WH) fibers were treated in an optimized 6% concentration of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution for an hour before composite fabrication by mixing with an epoxy resin (E) matrix. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) analyses were conducted on both the treated water hyacinth (TWH) and untreated water hyacinth (WH) fibers, and the constituent composites. The mechanical properties (such as tensile, flexural, and impact) of the WHE composites were tested. The results obtained showed that treated water hyacinth epoxy composites (TWHE) provided better mechanical properties with remarkable improvement of up to 13%, 17%, and 7% for tensile, flexural, and impact strength, respectively, in comparison with untreated water hyacinth epoxy composites (WHE). FESEM results revealed strong fiber/matrix interfacial bonding between the treated fibers and epoxy matrix while the untreated WHE composites showed evidence of poor compatibility between the untreated WH fibers and the epoxy matrix, thus decreasing the mechanical properties of the composites. The results have demonstrated that water hyacinth fibers have the potential as an alternative material to replace synthetic fibers in composite applications.

摘要

研制了水葫芦纤维热固性环氧树脂 (WHE) 复合材料, 并对其进行了表征. 在通过与环氧树脂 (E) 基质混合制备复合材料之前, 水葫芦 (WH) 纤维在优化的6%浓度的氢氧化钠 (NaOH) 溶液中处理1小时. 对处理过的水葫芦 (TWH) 和未处理的水葫芦纤维以及组成复合材料进行了傅立叶变换红外 (FTIR) 和场发射扫描电子显微镜 (FE-SEM) 分析. 测试了WHE复合材料的机械性能 (如拉伸、弯曲和冲击). 结果表明, 与未经处理的水葫芦环氧复合材料 (WHE) 相比, 经处理的环氧水葫芦复合材料 (TWHE) 具有更好的机械性能, 拉伸、弯曲和冲击强度分别显著提高了13%、17%和7%. FESEM结果显示, 经处理的纤维与环氧基体之间存在较强的纤维/基体界面结合, 而未经处理的WHE复合材料显示未经处理WH纤维与环氧树脂基体之间的相容性较差, 从而降低了复合材料的机械性能. 结果表明, 水葫芦纤维在复合材料应用中具有替代合成纤维的潜力.

KEYWORDS:

• Water hyacinth fiber
• epoxy
• alkali treatment
• polymer composites

关键词:

• 水葫芦纤维
• 环氧树脂
• 碱处理
• 聚合物复合材料

Highlights

• Water hyacinth is a wild plant that causes severe environmental problems in rivers and canals due to its widespread growth rates.

• Its usage as reinforcing fiber in composites was explored to save the ecosystem and aquatic lives.

• Chemical treatment enhanced the interfacial bonding of water hyacinth fibers and thermoset matrix in the composites system

• Water hyacinth fibers were found to have promising potential as an alternative material for synthetic fibers in composite applications.

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the management of the School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia Engineering Campus Nibong Tebal, Penang Malaysia, and the Department of Polymer and Textile Technology, Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria, for research collaboration and access to their laboratory research facilities.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical approval

We confirm that all the research meets ethical guidelines and adheres to the legal requirements of the study country. The research does not involve any human or animal welfare-related issues.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.