Utilization of Chemically Modified Novel Urena Lobata Fibers as Reinforcement in Polymer Composites – an Experimental Study

ABSTRACT

In the present research work, chemically modified Urena lobata (UL) fibers have been reinforced in epoxy resin matrix for fabrication of natural fiber polymer composite. The extracted fibers have been chemically modified with different concentration of NaOH (i.e. 4%, 5%, 6%, and 7%) and characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). From the tensile test results it has been found that 6% NaOH treated fiber gives maximum tensile strength. Composites have been fabricated using various weight percentages of treated fibers as reinforcement in epoxy resin and their mechanical and thermal properties have been evaluated. From the results it has been observed that 20 wt% of fiber loading gives optimum properties.

摘要

在目前的研究工作中，化学改性脲醛纤维（UL）已在环氧树脂中得到增强. 天然纤维-聚合物复合材料的基体. 用不同浓度的NaOH（4%、5%、6%和7%）对提取的纤维进行化学改性，并用扫描电镜（SEM）和红外光谱（FTIR）对纤维进行了表征. 拉伸试验结果表明，6%NaOH处理的纤维具有最大的拉伸强度. 用不同重量百分比的纤维增强环氧树脂制备了复合材料，并对其力学性能和热性能进行了评价. 从结果中可以观察到，20%的纤维负载可以获得最佳的性能.

KEYWORDS:

• Urena lobata fibers
• epoxy
• mechanical properties
• FTIR: XRD: SEM

关键词:

• 乌瑞娜纤维
• 环氧树脂
• 机械性能
• FTIR: XRD: SEM