Modification on Fiber from Alkali Treatment and AESO Coating to Enhance UV-Light and Water Absorption Resistance in Kapok Fiber Reinforced Polyester Composites

Figures & data

Table 1. The physical characteristics, composition, and types of treatment of KF serve as polyester reinforcement.

KF physical properties				Composite Nomenclature	Volume fraction (%)
Fiber treatment	Density (g/cm^3)	Diameter/thickness (µm)	Moisture Content (%)
Raw KF	0.68 ± 0.012	236.58 ± 20.66	12.06	Raw-KF composite	30	70
Coating KF	0.98 ± 0.031	287.44 ± 16.58	13.25	Coating-KF composite	30	70
Alkali KF	0.92 ± 0.028	151.41 ± 21.63	10.21	Alkali-KF composite	30	70
Alkali/coating KF	1.104 ± 0.017	181.66 ± 15.45	11.87	Alkali/coating-KF composite	30	70

Figure 1. Fabrication of KF-reinforced polyester composite.

Figure 2. (a) Elongation; (b) tensile strength and tensile modulus of KF-reinforced polyester composites.

Figure 3. Flexural strength and flexural modulus KF- reinforced polyester composites.

Figure 4. Composite’s water adsorption percentage against immersion time.

Figure 5. (a) Tensile strength and tensile modulus after UV light exposure; (b) flexural strength and flexural modulus after UV light exposure; (c) tensile strength and tensile modulus post water immersion; and (d) flexural strength and flexural modulus after water immersion of KF-reinforced polyester composites.

Table 2. Effect of fiber chemical treatment on water absorption and UV light exposure.

Fiber/matrix	Chemical treatment of fiber	Impact of chemical treatment to moisture absorption of NFRP composite	Impact of chemical treatment to UV light exposure of NFRP composite	Reference
sisal/polyester	Silane, NaOH, C7H5ClO, KMnO4)	Chemical treatment reduces the composites’ water uptake, which strengthens the fiber/matrix relationship. Following the treatment, the diffusion, sorption, and permeability coefficients all reduced.		Sreekumar et al., 2009
Trachycarpus Fortune Fiber (TFF) /polyester	Alkali, chitosan dan AESO	alkaline and blended coatings improve density and provide a wettability surface for fiber.		Gapsari et al. (2023)
hemp fiber/polypropylene	silane		The UV aging of the polymer composites is significantly influenced by the silane agents’ functional group. In UV aging, increased interfacial adhesion and decreased potential breakdown are essential.	Han et al. (2021)
Flax fiber/DDGS	AESO coating	Compared to the uncoated composites, the coated composites had a substantially reduced proportion of water uptake.		Liu and Tisserat (2018)
Kevlar/polyethylene	Advanced shear thickening fluids (STFs)		The structure of STFs and both impregnated and non-impregnated Kevlar wovens is significantly impacted by UV radiation.	Santos et al. (2023)
Kapok fiber/polyester	alkali treatment and AESO coating	The composite performance was significantly enhanced by the interfacial adhesion between fibers and the matrix following water absorption	The combination of alkali treatment and KF coating significantly improved the resilience of polyester composites to deterioration, especially when exposed to aging and UV radiation.	Current study

Figure 6. SEM photos of the fracture of (a) alkali/KF-composite; (b) alkali/KF-composite after UV exposure; (c) alkali/KF-composite after immersion.

Gapsari, F., D. B. Darmadi, H. Juliano, S. Hidayatullah, S. M. Rangappa, S. Siengchin, and S. Siengchin. 2023. “Modification of Palm Fiber with Chitosan-AESO Blend Coating.” International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 242 (4): 125099. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125099.

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Han, H. C., X. L. Gong, M. Zhou, C. Li, and H. B. Yang. 2021. “A Study About Silane Modification and Interfacial Ultraviolet Aging of Hemp Fiber Reinforced Polypropylene Composites.” Polymer Composites 42 (5): 2544–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.26000.

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Liu, Z., and B. H. Tisserat. 2018. “Coating Applications to Natural Fiber Composites to Improve Their Physical, Surface and Water Absorption Characters.” Industrial Crops and Products 112:196–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2017.12.002.

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