Comprehensive Characterization of Industrially Discarded Cymbopogon Flexuosus Stem Fiber Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Composites: Effect of Fiber Length and Weight Fraction

ABSTRACT

Industrial biowaste used as reinforcing materials for polymer composites has attained paramount importance. In this work, biowaste such as Cymbopogon flexuosus stem fiber (CFSF) was reinforced with unsaturated polyester. The results confirmed the enhancement of the mechanical properties with an increase of up to 30 wt.% fiber content and fiber length up to 40 mm. However, further addition declines the properties due to debonding of fiber with the matrix as identified by SEM analysis carried out in fractured specimens. It was also observed that the incorporation of CFSF decreased the rate of water absorption and increased the composite thermal stability.

摘要

工业生物废弃物作为聚合物复合材料的增强材料已变得至关重要. 在本研究中，以不饱和聚酯为增强剂，对生物废弃物如弯茎云杉纤维（CFSF）进行了增强处理. 结果表明，当纤维含量增加到30%时，纤维长度增加到40mm时，力学性能得到提高. 然而，进一步添加会降低性能，这是由于断裂试样的SEM分析表明，纤维与基体发生脱粘. CFSF的加入降低了复合材料的吸水率，提高了复合材料的热稳定性.

KEYWORDS:

• Biowaste
• Cymbopogon flexuosus stem
• mechanical properties
• thermal properties
• water uptake behavior
• interfacial bonding

关键词:

• 生物废弃物
• 弯茎云杉
• 机械性能
• 热性能
• 吸水行为
• 界面结合

Acknowledgments

SR acknowledges the Rohini College of Engineering and Technology, Shiv Kumar – copyeditor, and Pinnacle Bio-Sciences for providing research lab facilities to carry out his research work.